Sulu military commander Col. Alexander Aleo said Scout Rangers class 149 were on a test mission in the jungle near Indanan town when they clashed with 10 Abu Sayyaf bandits near the border of Barangay Palan, Talipao town Friday. Five government troopers were wounded.
Aleo said the fighting happened at 3:15 p.m. between the rangers and bandits led by Commander Nadih, one of the right-had men of Abu Sayyaf leader Galib Andang, alias Commander Robot.
The bandits retreated with their casualties, but the pursuing rangers recovered the body of one of the Abu Sayyaf members killed in the clash.
"There were no sightings of hostages (and) we believe the victims are with the group of (Abu Sayyaf leader) Radulan Sahiron," Aleo said.
Meanwhile, Aleo said the Abu Sayyaf bandits encountered by government troops Thursday in Zamboanga city were those from the group of Jainal Sali, alias Abu Solaiman, and Bakkal Hapilon, Isnilon Hapilon’s younger brother.
Aleo said that, based on intelligence reports, Sali was monitored to have slipped out of Sulu and is believed to be hiding in Zamboanga City.
According to Aleo, the authorities do not have any information regarding Solaiman’s possible purposes for going to Zamboanga City.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has included Sali among the masterminds in the Zamboanga City bombings October last year that killed 12 people, including an American Green Beret, and wounded 201 others.
The military and police are intensifying the intelligence gathering regarding the presence Abu Sayyaf.