Abu killed in gunfight off Zambo City

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the Abu Sayyaf group was killed while several others were wounded in a gunfight with members of an anti-terrorism unit off Zamboanga City. 

Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said the encounter lasted for 30 minutes, resulting in the death of an Abu Sayyaf member identified as “Korong.” There are no casualties on the side of government troops.

Col. Buenaventura Pascual, commander of the Armed Forces Task Force Zamboanga, said “Korong” is also known as “Commander Hassan.”

Pascual said the firefight occurred at around 9 a.m. yesterday near Sitio Tambak, Barangay Landang in Laum town Sacol Island.

He said task force members were patrolling the area when they spotted 15 fully armed men.

“While the troops were closing in, they were fired upon sending a brief sea gunbattle as the gunmen on board their pump boat escaped towards the mangrove area in Landang Laum,” he said.

“The encounter was a result of our aggressive sea patrol following the intelligence reports of Abu Sayyaf intrusion from Basilan,” Pascual said.

Ortiz meanwhile said naval intelligence personnel and the police are now scouring the site of the encounter.

The encounter happened a day after members of the Scout Rangers rescued a businesswoman kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Zamboanga Sibugay this month.

The victim, identified as Luisa Galvez-Morrison, who was kidnapped by three unidentified armed men last Sept. 4, was rescued by Scout Ranger troops in Sumisip, Basilan at about 3 p.m. last Monday.