SAF trooper in Tawi-Tawi clash with Abu bandit dies

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines —  One of the three police Special Action Force (SAF) members wounded in an encounter with an Abu Sayyaf bandit in Tawi-Tawi on Tuesday died while being treated in a hospital in this city.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos announced the death of Pat. Iam Valdes as  he and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil visited the wounded troopers in a private hospital here yesterday.

Valdes as well as Master Sgts. Alberto Olbis and Mohammad Lee Aharul of the SAF’s 51st Special Forces Company and PNP intelligence operatives were serving an arrest warrant for Udon Hasim in Tandubas town when the shootout occurred.

Hasim died in the firefight.

Marbil said the two wounded troopers, who will undergo surgery, would be transferred to a hospital in Manila.

Abalos and Marbil pinned on Olbis and Aharul the Medalya ng Katapangan, which was also posthumously awarded to Valdez.