THREE people, including two children, who were trapped in a recent firefight between troops and Abu Sayyaf bandits were rescued by government troops on Saturday, a top military official said Wednesday.
Rear Admiral Rene Medina, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) command chief, said rescued were Manah Solaiman, 27 and her two daughters, Raiza, seven, and Pirhana, two.
Medina said they were rescued on Saturday, December 15, in Minis Island, Patikul, Sulu, the site of the recent clash between the marine troops and some 50 Abu Sayyaf bandits on December 12.
The firefight resulted to the death of seven Abu Sayyaf bandits and a soldier. Three other soldiers were wounded.
Medina said the troops from the Naval Task Group Sulu and Philippine Marine Ready Force-Sulu were conducting clearing operation when they rescued Solaiman and her two daughters in the mangrove of Minis Island.
Medina said they were immediately provided with food and water and taken to the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for medical check-up and proper assistance.
He said Manah informed them that she and her two daughters were trapped when the firefight broke out on December 12, which prompted them to hide in the mangrove area.
He said it was found out during the debriefing that Manah and the two minors were the wife and children of an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member Jackie Solaiman alias Jackie Chan. (SunStar Philippines)
