2 Abus wounded in clash with troops

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government troops thwarted an attempt by the Abu Sayyaf militants to occupy a village in Basilan following an encounter that left two bandits wounded, the military said yesterday. 

Close to 20 Abu Sayyaf militants swooped down in Barangay Matata in Ungkaya Pukan town and attacked the villagers at about 8:30 a.m., according to Lt. Col. Jose Paolo Perez, head of the 18th Infantry Battalion. 

The military exchanged fires with the bandits led by Mamul Mande, an assistant of Abu Sayyaf leader Malista Sapaa.

Perez said the ground troops confirmed that two militants were wounded in the firefight. He said the Abus launched the attack after their candidate in the recent barangay election lost in the polls.