Military troops discovered a mass grave containing 15 bodies after they overran a camp of the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf group, local military officials said Sunday.
The bodies, believed to be Abu Sayyaf members, were found on Friday and were already bloated and decomposing, said Major General Narciso Abaya, head of the task force leading a military assault on the Abu Sayyaf in southern Jolo island,
This brings to 214 the number of Abu Sayyaf killed since the military launched an assault on the extremist group in September. The government side has suffered 12 dead.
Military spokesman Colonel Hilario Atendido said the camp had been found complete with bunkers and foxholes, indicating the extremists had fewer places left to seek refuge.
However there was still no word on the two remaining hostages of the Abu Sayyaf, American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino Roland Ullah.
The government launched an assault on the Abu Sayyaf on September after the extremist group went on a kidnapping spree starting in April, seizing dozens of local and foreign hostages and releasing them only after ransom was paid.
The military usually uses artillery or air strikes to soften up Abu Sayyaf positions before it attacks -- ZAMBOANGA (AFP)
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