Kin of Sulu ambush victims told to avoid retaliation

By: Frances Mangosing - 10 years ago

Bodies of victims in the brazen attack by about 40 to 50 Abu Sayyaf militants are covered in blankets at a makeshift morgue in Talipao township in Jolo in southern Philippines Tuesday, July 29, 2014. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Relatives of victims of Sulu ambush early this week were told to avoid seeking revenge and instead let the authorities serve justice.

鈥淭he Vice Chairman of Municipal Peace and Order Council in Sulu,聽Tambrin聽Tulawie, made rounds in聽Talipao聽on Thursday to encourage the relatives of the victims to avoid retaliation to the relatives of the suspects,鈥� Al聽Alih, officer of聽Talipao聽Disaster Risk Reduction and Municipal Council, told 黑料社 by phone on Friday, August 1.

He said there have been speculations that the relatives of the victims were planning to retaliate, but could not confirm if this was true.

Twenty-three civilians were killed in an ambush staged by about 50 gunmen from the Abu Sayyaf in聽Talipao聽last Monday, as Muslims celebrated聽Eid鈥檒聽Fitr. Among the 10 injured, seven remained in hospitals in Zamboanga and Sulu.

Victims were mostly women and children. Fatalities were as young as 3 months old and an elderly woman as old as 85.

Alih聽said the local government of聽Talipao聽has extended financial, food and security assistance since the incident.

Abu vs Abu?聽

A report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer said the alleged leader of the ambush, ASG sub-commmander聽Sibih聽Pisih, planned the attack in revenge for the death of his son early this year as a result of an operation conducted by militiamen linked to聽Talipao聽Vice Mayor聽Tamrin聽Tulawi.

The ASG-backed candidate lost to聽Tulawi聽and the elected vice mayor helped the military in the operations against the bandits.聽Pisih鈥檚聽18-year-old son, who was not a member of the ASG, was killed in one of the operations.

When聽Pisih聽staged the road ambush, he was reportedly unaware that relatives of another ASG sub-commander Said聽Gani聽known as Amah Maas based in聽Tanum聽were on board two passenger jeeps. Maas鈥� group is hunting聽Pisih聽and his men, the report said.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Sulu Provincial Government early this week said that some followers of a certain barangay official helped the Abu Sayyaf in staging the attack.

Brigadier General Martin Pinto, commander of 2nd Marine Brigade based in Sulu, assured that the situation in聽Talipao聽is stable but they remained on alert.