Military kills 4 bandits in Sulu offensive

ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - At least four Abu Sayyaf militants were confirmed killed and five others were wounded in the aerial and ground attack launched in Patikul, Sulu Thurday, the military said Friday.

Col. Jose Joriel Cenabre, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade and the Sulu Task Force (STF), said that the air and ground assault was launche after the bandits fired at military helicopters on logistic run in Barangay Tambang.

Cenabre said fighting sparked for more several hours as marines pounded the hostile position of the bandits.

“At least four were reported killed from the Abu Sayyaf, but only two bodies have been [found] so far," Cenabre said.

Meanwhile, he said that the offensive was also meant to pressure the militants into releasing the two Filipino-Algerian sisters abducted by the bandits last Saturday.

Indie filmmakers Nadjoua and Linda Bansil were seized by the Abu Sayyaf group under Ninok Sapari last June 22.

Cenabre said that the striking ground troops did not see any indications that the Abu Sayyaf group in the area were holding the sister.

Senior Inspector Kris Conrad Gutierrez, Spokesman of the Sulu Provincial Police Office, said police checkpoints have been established in the area to secure the civilians from dwelling into the conflict zone.

“Our concern there is the safety of the civilians. Although the area where the fighting occurred is not inhabited by civilian community,” Gutierrez said.