Abu Sayyaf bandits harass Basilan villagers

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Government troops thwarted the Abu Sayyaf Group from occupying a remote village in Basilan following an encounter on Saturday morning.

Lt. Col. Jose Paolo Perez, commander of the Army's 18th Infantry Battalion, said close to 20 Abu Sayyaf militants swooped down on Barangay Matata in Ungkaya Pukan town and attack the villagers at around 8 a.m.

Alerted troops clashed with the the bandits led by Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Mamul Mande, sparking a running gunbattle that left an undetermined number of militants injured.

Perez, however, said ground troops have so far confirmed two militants wounded from the encounter.

Perez said that the bandits attacked the village in retaliation to the loss of their barangay election candidate to a military volunteer.