AN ABU Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader was killed in a clash with government troops in the hinterlands of Sulu, the military said Wednesday, August 15, 2018.

Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) commander, said slain was Abdul Ajim Abdulgani alais Suraka Ingog, a sub-leader of the ASG and an explosive expert.

Medina said the clash ensued when joint marine and police troopers in an operation spotted a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Latih village, Patikul, Sulu.

Medina said Abdulgani to the group of the late Muamar Askali alias Abu Rami, who was killed in a clash with government troops in Bohol in April 2017.

The NFWM commander said the troops have recovered from the clash site a caliber .45 pistol with ammunition, ammunition for M-14 and P2,241 cash.

He said the remains of Abdulgani was brought to the Integrated Provincial Health Office for medico legal examination and later taken to the Camp General Teodulfo Bautista Hospital for proper disposition.

“The neutralization of this ASG sub-leader was a result of the commitment and continued monitoring activity of the government troops in the Western Mindanao Area of Responsibility,” he said. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)