A SOLDIER and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed in a clash as government offensive continues against the bandit group in the province of Sulu, a military official said Saturday, December 8.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the clash occurred at 5:38 p.m. Friday in Bungkaong village, Patikul, Sulu.

Besana said the troops from the Joint Task Force Sulu were on combat operations when they clashed four about 30 minutes against a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits.

The Westmincom official said a soldier was wounded in the clash while the bandits suffered an undetermined number of casualties based on the report of the residents.

The bandits fled following arrival of reinforcements and fire support delivered by the nearby military units, he added.

Besana said the troops extricated the wounded soldier, who expired upon arrival at a military hospital in this city.

He did not release the identity of the slain soldier except to say the latter was assigned with the Alpha Company of the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion.

The troops have recovered an M-14 rifle abandoned by the fleeing bandits, he added.

Besana said the Joint Task Force Sulu continues the combat operations against the ASG bandits in Sulu, who are still holding hostage six people--three foreigners and three Filipinos.

The foreign hostages included a Dutch, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese. (SunStar Philippines)