ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Fresh firefight ensued as government troops continued their focused military operation to rescue the remaining hostages being held by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu, the military reported Friday.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said reports from the field showed three soldiers and an ASG bandit were killed, while three other troops were wounded and rushed to the Kuta Heneral Teoduflo Baustita Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu.
Besana said several seriously injured ASG bandits died based on “human intelligence” or reports from residents.
Government troops from the 61st, 62nd, and 64th Marine Companies were on patrol when they clashed with a group of ASG bandits in Barangay Timpook, Patikul, Sulu Friday morning.
He said the ASG bandits who figured in the gunbattle with marine forces are followers of ASG sub-leaders Alnijar Ekit and Aldi Alun.
The troops recovered an M-14 rifle and seven magazines of ammunition at the clash site.
The ASG bandits are still holding captive nine people, including two foreigners – a Dutch and a Vietnamese -- in the hinterlands of Sulu. (PNA)
Marines, Abu Sayyaf clash in Sulu
By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
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