3 cops, militiaman wounded in attack by Abus

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines —  Three police officers and a militiaman were wounded in an attack by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Patikul, Sulu on Wednesday night.

Lt. Col. Gerald Monfort, public affairs office chief of the Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Infantry Division, said the government troopers were fired at while patroling Barangay Buhanginan at around 6:50 p.m.

Police said the bandits also suffered an undetermined number of casualties, and retreated after a five-minute gunfight.

Prior to the incident, an Abu Sayyaf bandit surrendered to the 41st Infantry Battalion (IB).

“The surrenderee revealed that many of his companions were planning to surrender and are just waiting for an opportunity to escape,” Lt. Col. Alaric delos Santos, 41st IB commander, said.