TROOPS rescued a wounded person believed to have been captured by the Abu Sayyaf Group following a short encounter in Banguingui, Sulu on Thursday, April 4.
In a statement, the Joint Task Force Sulu said personnel of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 were pursuing withdrawing Abu Sayyaf members led by Najir Arik after a 15-minute firefight in Simusa Island around 4:35 p.m. when they chanced upon the wounded person.
It said the wounded individual, whom they have yet to identify, was among the three persons kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in the area.
Troops said the man tried to escape in the middle of the firefight but was shot by his captors while trying to stop him from escaping.
The wounded victim was immediately given first-aid by the soldiers and was then evacuated to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista via a UH-1H helicopter for proper medical treatment.
There was no casualty on the government side.
Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Brigadier General Divino Pabayo Jr. said the tactical gain of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Sulu was made possible through the continued support of the peace-loving Tausug communities.
“The ASG’s act of shooting the hapless kidnapped victim is indicative of their hopelessness and of being desperate as they are now surrounded by our pursuing troops. The AFP in Sulu is now more motivated to hunt down these terrorists,” said Pabayo. (SunStar Philippines)