Philippine Troops Storm Camp in Failed Effort to Free Hostages

Troops backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers stormed a military garrison Friday but failed to dislodge Muslim captors who killed a general they were holding hostage.

Military Chief of Staff Gen. Renato de Villa said he feared a second officer held hostage since Thursday also was slain. He ordered troops to prepare another assault and said the Muslims “will die fighting.”

Officials said an unknown number of people died and at least five people were wounded in the assault, which was launched after the military confirmed that Brig. Gen. Eduardo Batalla, 50, was killed.

Batalla and his chief of staff, Col. Romeo Abendan, were captured Thursday by eight Muslim policemen and about seven of their supporters. Batalla had ordered the policemen, led by Patrolman Rizal Alih, to surrender their weapons and face murder charges in a 1984 incident.

Witnesses said tanks and armored personnel carriers, with guns blazing, smashed through the gates ahead of marines and commandos flown here from Manila.

Forced to Withdraw

But the troops were forced to withdraw after Muslims holed up in the command building returned fire with automatic rifles and grenade launchers. They disabled at least one armored vehicle.

Officials estimated that about 60 Muslims, many of them soldiers, had joined Alih with weapons looted from the garrison armory.

Sporadic firing could be heard around the compound throughout the night and before dawn today. Police said most of the firing came from government forces.