deanwells
04-19-2007, 04:47
Esperon orders troops:Find Malik before polls
By Anthony Vargas, Reporter
THE military chief on Wednesday has ordered troops in Sulu to capture a rogue Moro National Liberation Front chieftain before the midterm elections on May 14.
The Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Hermogenes Espe*ron Jr., said Ustadz Habier Malik, must be captured at the soonest possible time.
The AFP Public Information chief, Lt. Col. Bartolome Ba*carro, said the AFP brass is concerned that continued offensive in Sulu might affect the elections in Sulu.
Esperon “wants the pursuit operations against Malik finished as soon as possible,” Bacarro told reporters during a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.
The AFP wants Malik to answer for the mortar attacks on the Panamao town hall and a marine detachment over the weekend.
The attacks, in which two Marines and one civilian were killed, have triggered heavy fighting in Sulu with government troops overrunning two of Malik’s camp.
The fighting, which started Friday night, also killed eight of Malik’s fighters and the wounding of scores of others.
“We do believe that we have the upperhand . . . we will keep the momentum in tracking down Malik. The AFP will pursue his group,” Bacarro said.
Malik is believed to have retreated to eastern Sulu where he has strongholds in the mountains of Bitan-Ag in Panamao.
Bacarro rejected Malik’s claim the mortar attacks were in retaliation for the military’s encounter with the forces of MNLF Commander Kaid Ajibon in Marang early last week.
“Malik’s claim is unfounded . . . the area which he is referring has an air distance of 31 kilometers from his camp . . . and that was coordinated with the MNLF,” Bacarro said.
He said that what their troops engaged in Marang were the groups of Abu Sayyaf sub-commanders, Radulan Sahiron and Doctor Abu.
Bacarro said the MNLF guerrillas under Ajibon left the area on their own to avoid a misencounter with government troops.
Well, Well, Well. Udstadz Malik is at it again. He needs to go away.
By Anthony Vargas, Reporter
THE military chief on Wednesday has ordered troops in Sulu to capture a rogue Moro National Liberation Front chieftain before the midterm elections on May 14.
The Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Hermogenes Espe*ron Jr., said Ustadz Habier Malik, must be captured at the soonest possible time.
The AFP Public Information chief, Lt. Col. Bartolome Ba*carro, said the AFP brass is concerned that continued offensive in Sulu might affect the elections in Sulu.
Esperon “wants the pursuit operations against Malik finished as soon as possible,” Bacarro told reporters during a briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.
The AFP wants Malik to answer for the mortar attacks on the Panamao town hall and a marine detachment over the weekend.
The attacks, in which two Marines and one civilian were killed, have triggered heavy fighting in Sulu with government troops overrunning two of Malik’s camp.
The fighting, which started Friday night, also killed eight of Malik’s fighters and the wounding of scores of others.
“We do believe that we have the upperhand . . . we will keep the momentum in tracking down Malik. The AFP will pursue his group,” Bacarro said.
Malik is believed to have retreated to eastern Sulu where he has strongholds in the mountains of Bitan-Ag in Panamao.
Bacarro rejected Malik’s claim the mortar attacks were in retaliation for the military’s encounter with the forces of MNLF Commander Kaid Ajibon in Marang early last week.
“Malik’s claim is unfounded . . . the area which he is referring has an air distance of 31 kilometers from his camp . . . and that was coordinated with the MNLF,” Bacarro said.
He said that what their troops engaged in Marang were the groups of Abu Sayyaf sub-commanders, Radulan Sahiron and Doctor Abu.
Bacarro said the MNLF guerrillas under Ajibon left the area on their own to avoid a misencounter with government troops.
Well, Well, Well. Udstadz Malik is at it again. He needs to go away.