ABU Sayyaf bandits have abandoned war materials and personal belongings following a clash with government forces in the hinterlands of Sulu, the military reported Wednesday, March 4.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command chief, said the clash broke out as members of the Army's 1st Scout Ranger Battalion chanced upon 10 Abu Sayyaf bandits while conducting focused military operation Tuesday, March 3, in the village of Liu-Bud Pantao, Talipao, Sulu.
Sobejana said the firefight lasted for about 30 minutes after which the bandits fled, dragging along their casualties.
Sobejana said no one among the troops were either killed or wounded during the clash.
Troops recovered from the clash site the following: three bandoleers, three jungle packs, three poncho tents, one long and one short magazines of M-16 Armalite rifle, cash amounting to P14,000, one android cellular phone, one 40-mm cartridge, 10 kilos of rice, food stuff, and assorted kitchen utensils.
Sobejana said the military is intensifying the offensive to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf bandits and other threat groups who serve as menace of society while the peace campaigns continue. (SunStar Zamboanga)