SEVEN Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members on board a speedboat were killed in a daring military operation in the Sulu Sea before dawn Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Scout Rangers and Special Forces on board the Agusta attack helicopter of the Philippine Air Force and a multipurpose attack craft (MPAC) of the Philippine Navy intercepted the speedboat near Sulare Island in Parang, Sulu.

The ASG’s boat sank after a gunfight at 1:42 a.m. Tuesday, said Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) commander. The gunfight lasted for about 25 minutes.

The ASG members, who were suspected to be followers of Mundi Sawadjaan and Radullan Sahiron, were believed to be on their way to mainland Mindanao to carry out kidnappings.

Among those killed were Madsmar Sawadjaan, a brother of Mundi Sawadjaan, and Mannul Sawadjaan, who replaced deceased ASG senior leader Hajan Sawadjaan as emir.

Five others have yet to be identified.

Major General William Gonzales, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, directed the joint operations.

The military was trying to retrieve the sunken boat and bodies of the ASG men as of Tuesday afternoon. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)