Soldier slain, 4 hurt in clash with Abus

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A soldier was killed while four others were wounded in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits Sunday afternoon in Patikul, Sulu.

The bandits that the soldiers encountered were behind the ambush of a military convoy last Friday, during which two bandits were killed, according to Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for Western Mindanao Command.

Muyuela said Sunday’s fighting broke out at around 4 p.m. in Barangay Bungkaong between the troops and the followers of Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Hatib Aseri and Basarun Arok. She said the fighting lasted for an hour. 

Muyuela said the group was dubbed Luck-9 group Ajang-ajang, said to be composed of orphans of the slain Abu Sayyaf leaders and members.

The group was known for kidnapping local personalities.

There was no immediate report about the number of fatalities among the Abu Sayyaf bandits, but soldiers believe several were killed.

New camp seized

Military troops overran a suspected camp of Abu Sayyaf bandits as they were pursuing the militants in Patikul, Sulu yesterday.

Troops belonging to the Joint Task Group Sulu were conducting a clearing operation when they discovered the camp in Barangay Langhub shortly after 6 a.m., Muyuela said.

She said the camp could accommodate at least a hundred people and had 42 structures built in it.

The troops also recovered from the camp bullet shells for different firearms, two hand-held radios, four hammocks, eight pairs of combat boots, a pair of civilian boots and nine backpacks, among others.

Muyuela believes the bandits abandoned the camp in their haste to flee from the soldiers.