In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Sayyaf bandit killed, 2 soldiers hurt in Sulu clash

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

April 11, 2019, 10:04 pm

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandit was killed while two soldiers were wounded in a firefight as the military continued its offensive against the ASG in Sulu, a military official said Thursday.

Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the firefight broke out in Sitio Bud Taming, Barangay Panglayahan, Patikul, Sulu at about 10:37 a.m. Thursday.

Besana said firefight broke out when troops under the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion chanced upon some 100 bandits under ASG leader, Radullan Sahiron.

Sahiron, also known as the one-armed bandit leader, is the oldest among the existing ASG leaders in the province of Sulu.

Besana said the 40-minute firefight resulted in the death of an ASG bandit and injured two soldiers. The ASG bandits withdrew towards the southwest direction.

The troops “are on hot pursuit of the fleeing enemy,” he said, adding that military offensives are ongoing in a bid to rescue the hostages from the hands of the ASG bandits in Sulu.

The Sulu-based ASG bandits are still holding more than five captives, including foreigners. (PNA)

Comments