TWELVE Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while five soldiers were wounded in four separate clashes as offensive against the bandits continue in the hinterlands of Sulu, military officials said Friday, April 12.
Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the first clash ensued at 10:37 a.m. Thursday at Sitio Bud Taming in Panglayahan village, Patikul, Sulu.
Besana said the firefight broke out when the troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion encountered some 120 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by leader Radullan Sahiron and sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan while on combat operation at Sitio Bud Taming in Panglayahan village.
He said the Abu Sayyaf bandits fled towards southwest direction from the site of clash, which lasted for about 45 minutes.
The Westmincom official said the second firefight broke out at 3:43 p.m. on same day at Sitio Kan-Isnain in Kabbon Takas village, Patikul.
He said the clash ensued as the troops from the Army’s 1st Scout Ranger Battalion engaged some 80 Abu Sayyaf bandits who are followers of Sawadjaan and Almujer Yadah while on focused military operation.
He said the bandits scampered to different directions as they outmaneuvered by the troops.
The third firefight ensued at 5:13 p.m. also on Thursday as the troops from the Army’s 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion clashed against 10 Abu Sayyaf bandits while on blocking position at Sitio Tambang, also in the village of Kabbon Takas.
Besana said the firefight lasted for two hours and 30 minutes, after which bandits withdrew, bringing along with them their casualties.
He said that amid the hot pursuit operation on fleeing enemies previously encountered by the troops, soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion engaged with another group of Abu Sayyaf bandits also at Sitio Tambang, Kabbon Takas village at 5:26 p.m. of the same day.
He said the bandits that figured in the firefight with the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion troops have previously clashed with the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion troops.
The military official said the troops gathered “reports from the ground” that 12 Abu Sayyaf bandits died while several others were wounded in the series of clashes.
Besana said the troops retrieved the remains of the two slain bandits at the clash site in Kabbon Takas.
He said the troops have also recovered in the area a pair of Night Vision Goggles, 40 makeshift tents, 50 water containers, and five sacks of rice.
The five wounded soldiers were taken hospital for medical attention.
Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo Jr, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the support and cooperation of the local community led to the successful conduct of operations and “that troops’ morale is also high due to the people’s continuous support.”
Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega commended the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu for the recent accomplishments.
Dela Vega said the merging of the Abu Sayyaf bandits from different sub-leaders only shows that the troops are gaining grounds and the bandits are getting weaker. (SunStar Philippines)