Dolorfino says new strategy vs ASG working

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) - Philippine Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban vowed more top Abu Sayyaf commanders will fall in the next weeks and months following the death of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-commander Al Bader Parad.

Top Marine commanders were at Camp Navarro hospital in Zamboanga on Monday to pin medals on 3 Marines wounded in Sunday's encounter with the Abu Sayyaf, which led to the killing of ASG commander Al Bader Parad and five others in Barangay Karawan, Indanan close to the boundaries of Maiumbung and Indanan, Sulu province.

Private First Class (PFC) Joselito Carreon had a gunshot wound saying the bullet of an M-16 was still in his body.

Corporal Anthony Carmona had several shrapnel wounds in his arms and body.

Corporal Marcelino Landicho had slight shrapnel wounds on his left leg.

Speaking to Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino and Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Landicho said he fired the first shot in the encounter after his spotter alerted him to a group of armed men in a lone hut in a wooded area.

Landicho said he shot at one of the men who was 30 meters away from him after confirming that about 6 or 7 men inside the hut were armed.

The man, who was unarmed, walked casually away from the hut, unaware of the presence of the Marine Special Operations Platoon, Landicho said.

He added they had been on patrol all night and were without sleep when they exchanged fire with an estimated 50 Abu Sayyaf fighters.

Hit by shrapnel

Landicho said that while on patrol, they saw many indications that the ASG were likely in the area, such as remnants of a fire where meals were prepared and a resting area where hammocks had been tied, but little did they realize they had come so close.

Landicho said that after he fired the first shot, he spotted more armed men around 50 meters away from the hut who were hidden behind coconut trees.

PFC Carreon and Corporal Carmona were in the front-line, with only a fallen coconut trunk shielding them from the heavy volley of gunfire that came from the Abu Sayyaf side.

The pair crawled away when they were hit by shrapnel.

They said an MG helicopter evacuated the wounded an hour later, the terrain proving difficult for the chopper to land.

Dolorfino said the intelligence-driven strategy using smaller platoons, rather than division-size troops to go after the terror group, has proven to be effective.

Dolorfino and Sabban said the death of Parad will break up the sub-commander's 100-strong group within the ASG since it will now be leaderless.

Soldier killed set to finish course

Staff Sergeant Eliseo Salo was the lone soldier killed among the Marines.

Salo was on a Marine Scout Sniper Force training and supposed to graduate from the course on February 25.

Those who take part in this course undergo two-and-a-half months of training.

The troops that participated in the operations against Parad's group were: 7th Marine Special Operation Platoon (20 to 20 men per platoon); 2 reconnaissance companies (30 men); one sniper class (30 men).