Abu death toll hits 7

ZAMBOANGA CITY  , Philippines  — Two more Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in an encounter with government troopers in Patikul, Sulu on Thursday. 

The clash raised the death toll in military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf this week to seven.

On Tuesday, five bandits were killed in an operation to rescue the remaining kidnap victims also in Patikul. Six soldiers were wounded in the clash.

The body of one of the fatalities identified as Roger Samlahon as well as his gun, two mobile phones and backpack were recovered at the scene.

”We are still trying to determine where he was buried,” Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said, referring to the other fatality whose body was brought by  the bandits as they fled.

Sobejana said members of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit and soldiers of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion clashed with the Abu Sayyaf in Barangay Latih at around noon. 

He said the bandits are followers of sub-leader Sukara Inggug.  

The military said the Abu Sayyaf fighters could be part of the group that they encountered in Barangay Panglahayan on Tuesday.