SEVEN Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members were killed while 23 others, including 17 soldiers, were wounded in a firefight in the province of Sulu Friday, September 14.
Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said the firefight broke out around 1:30 p.m. in the village of Bakong, Patikul, Sulu.
Dela Vega said the troops were on combat operations when they chanced upon some 100 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by one-armed leader Radullan Sahiron and sub-leaders Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan and Idang Susukan.
Sahiron is the oldest among the ASG leaders in Sulu.
Dela Vega said the firefight resulted in the death of seven ASG bandits. Their remains were recovered and taken to Camp General Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for forensic examination and proper disposition.
One of the six wounded bandits was reportedly Sawadjaan, who sustained critical injuries. The rest of the bandits fled to different directions.
Most of the 17 wounded soldiers sustained shrapnel wounds. They were all taken to Camp Bautista Hospital for treatment.
Dela Vega said the troops recovered from the clash site the following: one M-16 Armalite rifle; four magazines of caliber 5.56-milimeter ammunition; an ammunition bandolier; one touchscreen cellular phone; and, assorted war materiel and ammunition.
He commended the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu for the accomplishment and assured that “all sorts of assistance will be provided to the battle casualties.”
“Our prayers are with them for their speedy recovery,” he added.
The troops are continuously conducting combat operations in a bid to rescue the 10 hostages from the hands of the ASG bandits.
The hostages include three Indonesians, one Vietnamese, one Dutch and five Filipinos.