8 soldiers wounded in Sulu clash with Abus

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Eight soldiers were wounded in a clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu, officials said.

Patrolling troops from the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion encountered the bandits at Barangay Tiis Kutung, on the outskirts of Talipao town late Tuesday, triggering an hour-long gunbattle, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara said.

Batara claimed the bandits retreated and scattered in the darkness, leaving behind personal belongings and bloodstains indicating that they suffered casualties as well.

“The Abu Sayyaf terrorists retreated after they suffered undetermined wounded and possible killed followers,” Batara said.

The eight wounded troops were brought to Camp General Bautista in Barangay Busbus to be airlifted to the Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) in Westmincom headquarters.

“Reports indicated most of our casualties suffered only minor wounds,” Batara said.

The Army’s 104th Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Antonio Mark Supnet said troops have been pursuing the information that Dulmatin, one of the most wanted terrorists in Asia, is with the bandit group in the area.

Though officials could not confirm if Dulmatin was with the group during the encounter, Supnet said the high number of gunmen in the area indicated the possibility of the presence of a high-value target.

The Abu Sayyaf in Jolo are believed to be sheltering two Indonesian members of the Jemaah Islamiyah extremist network, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who were involved in the deadly 2002 Bali bombings which left over 200 people dead.

The military has deployed over 5,000 troops under “Oplan Ultimatum” to Sulu and Basilan where the Abu Sayyaf are holed up.   – Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude, AFP