Taps, a salute to the fallen

end of truce ?

14 soldiers killed as gunbattles rage in Jolo

As many as 14 soldiers were reported killed while 16 others were wounded in the continuing clash between government troopers and the combined forces of the Abu Sayyaf and former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members in Jolo on Tuesday.

The military has no report on how many gunmen loyal to jailed former MNLF leader Nur Misuari have been killed or wounded in the fighting in Panamao and other outlying towns.

The clashes erupted Monday when more than 500 of Misuari's men attacked soldiers after a disagreement over military operations against the Abu Sayyaf that affected their stronghold, the military said.

About 300 gunmen seized an Army company detachment in Panamao's Siit village, but government forces were able to retake it after hours of fighting, the military said.


abs-cbnNEWS.com monitor

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/FlashNewsStory....?FlashOID=23707

Military rejects truce in Jolo battle

Fighting between Muslim rebels and government troops in Jolo continued for the third day on Wednesday as the military rejected a call for a cease-fire.

At least 20 soldiers have been killed and 38 wounded and an estimated 30 Muslim rebels have died and 37 wounded in the fighting, which began after a child was shot dead during a weekend military operation, officials said.

Muslim rebels fired mortar shells at a Marine camp in Pati­kul town, but most of the fighting centered in the coastal town of Panamao, where guerrillas engaged troops in a series of running skirmishes, officials in the area said.

Two OV-10 attack planes bombed rebel positions and a naval boat shelled the area. Civilian residents of Panamao were being evacuated from the area, said the officers.

“The situation is fluid as our troops continue to pursue these perpetrators,” said Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan in Manila.

Adan said six battalions of troops were now in Jolo with a Marine battalion ready to join them.

more

right on

Lt. Col. Dennis Villanueva fatally wounded in Jolo by MN mortar fire

Zipping up a body bag


Wounded Army soldier

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting



This post has been edited by jogger on Feb 10 2005, 06:25 PM

my thoughts and prayers to all PA KIA and WIA

was LTC Villanueva the BN CO?

60 + MNLF rebels supposed to be killed in the fight but no evidence of MNLF dead bodies shown on video and photos, only those of govt casualties...is the AFP telling the truth or did they lose more men than the rebels?

update:

Soldiers overrun suspected MNLF camp in Sulu

A major camp of a suspected breakaway faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had been overrun by the military, five days into the raging clashes in Sulu, ANC reported Friday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Efren Abu said the camp in Barangay Bitanag, Kalang-alang Kaluang had been seized by soldiers.

He added military operations continue to overrun other suspected rebel camps south of Sulu.

The AFP chief revealed the MNLF breakaway faction was able to recruit members prior to their attack against the military early this week by promising jobs and livelihood to residents, once former MNLF chief Nur Misuari is returned to Mindanao.

Misuari is currently detained at the Fort Santo Domingo in Laguna for alleged rebellion.

The military said it will continue its assault on MNLF breakaway faction in Sulu unless President Arroyo orders a cease-fire.

AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Ariston de los Reyes said military offensives will continue until the MNLF fighters are neutralized.

Mrs. Arroyo has left it to the military to determine until when its assault will continue, pointing out that the violence has been isolated in only two towns in Sulu.

Senators, meantime, said the government should act tough against enemies of the state, adding that the government should not agree to a cease-fire amid the clashes in Sulu.

Opposition Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said the military should pursue the enemy until they surrender.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon for his part added the government may be seen as weak if it agrees to a truce with the MNLF breakaway group.
ABS-CBN News Channel

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/FlashNewsStory....?FlashOID=23814

He led a soldier's life, died a soldier's death

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=27210

another 3 soldiers killed by abu sayyaf

THREE soldiers were killed and one wounded in a clash on Saturday with suspected members of the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group on the strife-torn island of Jolo, a military task force commander said. The clash comes just days after about 2,000 soldiers overran the headquarters of Muslim rebel leader Habier Malik in Panamao town in Jolo following some 10 days of fighting which claimed the lives of 25 soldiers and some 70 to 100 of Malik's men.

Troops were securing a road in Indanan town in the southern island when they encountered the members of the Abu Sayyaf, a feared kidnapping and bombing gang, said Brigadier General Agustin Dema-ala. The Abu Sayyaf suffered an undetermined number of casualties, he added.

Dema-ala said the clash came as the military was re-positioning some of its forces from Panamao town, Malik's stronghold, to other parts of Jolo island where the Abu Sayyaf are based.

Malik, a respected religious leader and loyal follower of jailed Muslim rebel and politician Nur Misuari, mounted attacks on military outposts in Jolo on February 6.

He was backed by members of Misuari's old guerrilla group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) but Abu Sayyaf fighters also took part in some of the fighting, the military has said.

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?in...&story_id=28032

let us all offer a 1 minute prayer for the late 2Lt.
Nicanor Fabia PMA Class of 2004 who have just died following an ambush in
jolo,sulu...

RIP

>>Taps<<

It was land mine.

Poor kid. Here's a toast.

My prayers...

To the LT. and to the PVT. who died with him.

in memory of 2Lt Eric Bulatao

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves under the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

..Anonymous..


"And when the taps shall sound for me
Banners drape my last remains
Let singing comrades bury me
To the echo of these strains
For hearts will live and die for Thee
Forever live in Thee
Young blood shall come to carry on
When too old strong hearts are gone.."

...Strong Hearts...

you've done your part... you've laid your life so
that others may live... though no people may
remember how you live your life in sevice to our
nation... we will always be grateful for what
you've done...
rest my comrade.. to the place where no sound of
gun will be heard... where silence speaks the
eloquence of peace we've trying to pursue... dying
is not the end of the beginning rather it is the
beginning of a new life.. where there is no
sadness, no crying, no dying and no more war and
fighting... as the saying goes.."to die is to
rest" now it's our turn to carry on the life in
service to our nation.. you've done your part...
rest my friend... rest...

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

"Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting,
but rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived."
-Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., 7 June 1945



x3

This post has been edited by commando on May 24 2005, 08:53 PM