UPDATE

Fighting has been intense near me on Basilan as well as on the Island of Sulu. Many soldiers have been wounded or killed. This is fact for I have visited these soldiers in the Hospital at WestMinCom where The Healing House has a Treatment Program for traumatized military and their families. (I am glad to report that we now have approximately 10 new volunteers to help at WestMinCom Camp Navarro Hospital who are Psychology Graduate Students) The WestMinCom (Western Military Command) Healing House has a new office which is decorated in the colors of the Philippine flag with Philippine and American flags painted on the wall. Hopefully, many soldiers and families will be helped.

(Back to the issue of the Terrorists)
The Abu Sayyaf faction near me on Basilan is headed by Puruji Indama and Nur Hassan Jamiri. (ASG) Commander Long is the MILF Commander and a major leader of the Terrorists in the area. (Remember the common saying of folks on Mindanao) "MILF during the day but Abu Sayyaf at night." They are largely blamed for kidnapping and terrorist acts along with other leaders that I will not name here. There is a TERRORIST LETTER on this BLOG from these two that my bodyguard received. Please click on prior entries to view this demand letter to become Muslim or pay money or pay the price of great danger

There are several earlier reports here, on this blog, that have misinformation. I am now trying to be very careful and report accurate info or at least to say if info is given by a credible or fairly reliable source or if it may be rumor. There is no doubt that (as the only Westerner here) , at times I am given misinformation. Also, I receive info from the Marines that is over the radio from Marines in different Operations and sometimes this fresh, just happening, info is incorrect or incomplete. My goal here is to be as truthful with honest reporting of what is happening at the time in an area where there are no reporters. I wish I had a cameraman to join me in this endeavor.

An example of a mistake (which was reported incorrectly to me at the time by the Marines) is that the ambushed priest did not die in October. Claretian Priest Felimon Libot was ambushed and wounded on his way to celebrate Mass in Sumisip, Basilan. Thankfully, he did not die. The reported information on this Blog mistakenly indicated his demise.