Sulu ambush death toll reaches 23

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MANILA — At least 23 civilians were killed in Talipao, Sulu, on Monday in an ambush by suspected members of Abu Sayyaf Group.

“It happened 8:30 am. Sixteen were immediately killed in the ambush but 2 of the wounded also died,” said Brigadier General Martin Pinto, commander of the Sulu-based 2nd Marine Brigade. Pinto said among the dead were children.

As the whole world observes Eid al-Fitr, two more civilians, a father and a son who died because of serious injuries, added to the death toll of the Sulu ambush.

“As of 11 am, the death toll in Sulu is already 23… The AFP provided medical teams and evacuated the wounded from the encounter site. It is believed that about 50 Abu Sayyaf members led by Indang Susukan and Sibih Pisih attacked the convoy of 40 civilians and 10 BPAT (Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team) members,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala Tuesday, in a Rappler report.

The ambush, which included victims as young as 2 and as old as 85, happened on Monday, July 28., amid intensified military operations in Sulu.

The victims identified by police included:

1. Padzma Hasan, 32
2. Misyaar Hassan, 14
3. Maida Hasan, 35
4. Jirmalyn Hasa, 15
5. Dadah Palahuddin, 85
6. Mura Ahadan, 60
7. Jainab Ajid, 50
8. Milina Ahadan, 15
9. Miriam Binhur, 19
10. Nurfaisa Gappar, 14
11. Dayang Ahadan, 19
12. Tata Isahac, 40
13. Risalyn Isahac, 7
14. Saik Ajid, 45
15. Said Palahuddin, 35
16. Abdul Julhari, 83
17. Baris Julhair, 19
18. Abdukahal Ahadan, 19
19. Abdulrahim Isahac Omar, 2
20. Termiji Tambrin, 3
21. Ahadani Tambrin, 45

Three other victims remain in critical condition in the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Jolo, Sulu, according to Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Meanwhile, the police has now created a special task group to investigate on the incident and identify those behind the attack.

“We just don’t want to rely on the people pointing to anybody else, we want evidence that will pin down those perpetrators behind this crime,” delos Reyes, said.