CAPTURED. A military physician attends to wounded Abu Sayyaf Group member, Amah Ullah, at the Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu on Thursday (Nov. 12, 2020). Government troops captured Ullah following a clash in Patikul, Sulu. (Photo courtesy of the 11th Infantry Division)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops captured an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandit following a clash in Sulu province, officials said Friday.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) commander, said Thursday's firefight in Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu broke out when the Army's 6th Special Forces Battalion chanced upon a group of ASG bandits while scouring the village.
Vinluan said the bandits fled following a 10-minute firefight but one of them, identified as Amah Ullah, sustained wounds and was captured as the troops pursued the fleeing bandits.
He said based on the troops' accounts, Ullah was determined to fight up to his last breath and urged the soldiers to kill him.
The soldiers, however, applied first aid on the wounded bandit before bringing him to the Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital.
Lt. Col. Rafael Caido, commander of the 6th Special Forces Battalion, said Ullah is the uncle and adviser of Basaron Arok, an emerging ASG sub-leader.
Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said, “The (JTF) Sulu continues to abide by the rules of engagement and maintain professionalism in instances such as this. We make it a point that even captured enemies are treated humanely. We provide them medical treatment if they need it. Hopefully, Amah Ullah will come to his senses and cooperatively aid in our pursuit of peace here in Sulu.” (PNA)
