ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Three Army Scout Rangers were wounded when they encountered the Abu Sayyaf group leaving two militants killed yesterday morning in the jungle of Basilan province, according to military officials here.
Lt. Col. Eugene Boquio, commander of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, said his forces encountered the followers of Abu Sayyaf leader Nurhassan Jamiri, a dreaded kidnap-for-ransom leader, at Sitio Buug, Barangay Macalang, in Al-Barka town, near the border of Ungkaya Pukan town, Basilan.
Boquio said his rangers were on mission patrol when it encountered the Abu Sayyaf about 6:15 a.m triggering a brief but fierce firefight resulting to the killing of two Abu Sayyaf on the spot while undetermined others were wounded prompting the militants to retreat.
Three of the Army Rangers were also wounded during the encounter where the government troops recovered five high-powered firearm, which include three M16 rifles, one M203, and one M14 rifle from the Abu Sayyaf group.
He said the soldiers have been in hot pursuit against the militants who escaped using the jungle toward the Sumisip mountains a known haven of Abu Sayyaf militants militants.
Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the wounded soldiers were immediately airlifted and evacuated by the 3rd Air Division from the combat zone and brought to a military hospital for treatment.
Cabangbang said one of the three wounded soldiers, who was critically wounded on the jaw, was transferred to Zamboanga City Medical Center for further treatment while the conditions of the two other soldiers have stabilized.
He said the ongoing military operation is part of the directive of Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf blamed for the spate of kidnappings and bombing attacks.
– With AP, Jaime Laude