1 soldier dead as troops, Sayyaf clash in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY - - Marine troops clashed  with 30 Abu Sayyaf militants equipped with high-powered firearms in Patikul town, Sulu while pursuing the kidnapping case of the provincial treasurer Tuesday,  leaving a soldier killed,  an official said.

The Abu Sayyaf group led by sub-leaders Asman and Hatib Sawadjaan also suffered undetermined number of wounded in the firefight that lasted for almost an hour.

Brig. Gen. Jose Johriel Cenabre, 2nd Marine Brigade commander and head of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said the elements of the 26th Marine Company under the Marine Battalion landing Team 6 (MBLT) were conducting road clearing and pursuit operations when they encountered the 30 Abu Sayyaf militants at Barangay Maligay about 1:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Cenabre said the encounter occurred while the soldiers were conducting search operation on the whereabouts of Jess Cabelin, 60, provincial treasurer who was abducted by the Abu Sayyaf last Monday night from his sleeping quarters near the provincial capitol at Barangay Bauno Bangkal, Patikul town.

A soldier was killed in the firefight but the militants were forced to retreat with undetermined number casualties toward the interior part of Barangay Maligay, according to Cenabre.

Cenabre said the fighting soldiers made no immediate sightings whether the kidnap victim was with the Abu Sayyaf group it encountered.

“The Abu Sayyaf militants that the soldiers encountered could be acting as the blocking group of the abductors,” Cenabre said.

The police and military said there was no report also if the kidnappers have contacted with the provincial government to make known their demand in exchange for the safe release of Cabelin.