14 suspected Abus arrested in Sulu
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government troops rounded up 14 suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of Talipao, Sulu, the military said yesterday.
Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said 12 men and two women were arrested near Bud Bunga, the site where 16 people were killed and scores wounded in the firefight between Abu Sayyaf militants and government forces.
She said the troops questioned why the suspects were still in the area when most of the villagers had evacuated.
The suspects were turned over to the police for questioning, Muyuela said.
Government forces continue to scour the area for 300 gunmen under the combined groups of Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullan Sahiron, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan and Julie Ekit.
Reports said the bandits had splintered into small groups to slip 28 wounded comrades out of the jungle.
Sawadjaan and Ekit were among those wounded in the encounter last Friday.
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