A MEMBER of the Abu Sayyaf Group was killed while four others were wounded as firefight erupted anew between government troops and the bandits in the province of Sulu.

Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the latest firefight happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 27, 2019, in the village of Sandah, Patikul, Sulu.

Besana said the firefight ensued as the government troops chanced upon a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Mundi Sawadjaan while conducting focused operation in Sandah.

Besana said the clash, which lasted for about five minutes, resulted in the death of a follower of Sawadjaan. Four others were wounded based on the report of the residents in the area.

No one among the troops were killed or wounded.

Besana said the troops recovered backpacks that the bandits abandoned.

Additional troops were deployed to block possible withdrawal routes and pursue the fleeing bandits.

The group of Sawadjaan on Saturday attacked a community in the village of Igasan, Patikul, which resulted in the death of two children and the wounding of three others. (SunStar Philippines)