5 Abu Sayyaf slain, 2 soldiers hurt in Sibugay clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —  Five Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed and two soldiers were wounded in an encounter in Roseller Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay yesterday.

Personnel of the 44th Infantry Battalion (IB) and local police launched the operation after they tracked down 15 followers of Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama in Sitio Linomo, Barangay President Roxas, Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, 102nd Brigade commander, said.

Nicolas said the gunfight, which lasted for about 30 minutes, was followed by air strikes.

He said the wounded soldiers were airlifted to the Camp Navarro General Hospital for treatment and are now in stable condition.

Nicolas said a 15-year-old boy, believed to be caught in the crossfire, was wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment.

Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, 44th IB commander, said soldiers clashed with the same group of bandits in Barangay La Paz, Alicia, also in Zamboanga Sibugay, on Sunday. A bandit was killed and several of his companions were wounded.

Roseller Lim town Councilor Regine Enso, whose fishpond is near the site of the encounter, cited a police report that the bandits, some of them wounded, arrived on three pumpboats on Sunday.

Enso said the gunbattle was ongoing even as helicopter gunships continued to fire on Abu Sayyaf strongholds yesterday afternoon.

The Naval Force Western Mindanao deployed patrol ships and set up blockades in  the area.