ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while 11 were wounded including six Army troopers and five civilians in a military offensive in Al-Barka town in Basilan at dawn yesterday.
The military said the firefight broke out after members of the Joint Task Group (JTG) Basilan assaulted a group of bandits led by Basir Kasaran at about 5:45 a.m. in Barangay Kuhon.
Ensign Chester Ramos, spokesman for the Joint Task Group Zambasulta (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi), said the bandit group suffered casualties in the initial firefight.
Reports said the two bandits were killed in an ensuing firefight that also resulted in the wounding of six soldiers who were pursuing the fleeing Abu Sayyaf.
Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said the wounded soldiers were taken to a military hospital for treatment.
The five wounded civilians were identified as Jumiran Misa, 52; his daughters Radisa, 18, and Sarfe, 5; Sanima Husein and Asma Husein, 2.
The military has yet to determine how the civilians were caught in the crossfire as the area was far from residential communities.