Two Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits died while two soldiers were injured when a clash sparked between the two parties in the province of Sulu.
The firefight occurred at around 1 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Bakong, Patikul, Sulu, when soldiers from the Army’s 15th Scout Ranger Company came across the groups of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron and sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, according to Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
Two of the ASG bandits, Taullah Abdurasa alias Amah Ollah, a sub-leader, and Baby Ollah were killed in the firefight.
Government troops also retrieved two high-powered firearms from the dead bandits.
Meanwhile, the two wounded soldiers are currently under medical care.
“Pursuit and deliberate offensives continue to pressure and pound down Abu Sayyaf fighters, constricting their movement and preempting terror ploys in the ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) area,” Sobejana stated.
“We are building up combat and intelligence operations to debilitate the militants in Sulu,” he added. (RJ Espartinez)