40 Soldiers Have Died in Gun Battles Since Monday

Up to 30 gunmen loyal to former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari may have also been killed in the clashes in Panamao and outlying towns, Southern Command chief Lieutenant General Alberto Braganza said. Local officials said as many as 40 soldiers may have died in gun battles since Monday.

They have asked for it and we’ll give it to them, Braganza said as he deployed hundreds of Marines and ordered Air Force planes to blast the gunmen holed up in Panamao.

“I have ordered air strikes to punish these renegades,” he said. “We are pursuing less than 500 armed men that are holding out in the mountains.”

Five Philippine Army soldiers were also killed in separate raids by members of the MILF breakaway faction in a military detachment in Barangay Biid, Parang and in Panamao town. Reports reaching ABS-CBN said at least six MNLF members were also killed in separate gunfights.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines announced Tuesday that more members of the Philippine Marines were deployed to Sulu. Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police also deployed its personnel in Sulu to augment the government soldiers.