A MEMBER of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed while two policemen were injured in two separate clashes in the island province of Sulu, military officials said Tuesday, April 2.
A report reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City stated that Master Sergeant Al Nidzfar Eraji and Patrolman Jordan Changlapon were wounded when at least 10-15 members of the ASG attacked them around 8:30 a.m.
Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the first clash happened around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the village of Kan Ague, Patikul, Sulu.
The personnel of Patikul Municipal Police Station were providing security escort to teachers from Jolo going to Barangay Taung in Patikul when the attack happened.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel rushed the wounded policemen to the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) for medical treatment.
Besana said troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Ronaldo Mateo together with the police have launched pursuit operation against the bandits in Patikul.
He said an Abu Sayyaf bandit was killed in the second clash that happened at 8:31 a.m. same day at Sitio Halu-Halu in Bakaan village, Simisa Island, Banguingui, Sulu.
The army official said the troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 (MBLT-3) were on security operation when they clashed with a group of bandits.
The troops recovered the remains of the slain Abu Sayyaf bandit and one carbine rifle following a 15-minute firefight, he added.
Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief, said the Joint Task Force Sulu continuously employ more pressure through offensive on the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits to gain more enemy strongholds and armaments.
“We believe that a number of the bandits were wounded and probably could have died due to loss of blood after the encounter especially that our troops are still pursuing them as of this report,” Dela Vega said.
He said they still encourage the other members of the ASG surrender in order to finally have peace in Sulu while combat operations are vigorously undertaken to neutralize the remaining bandits. (With Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)