SIX Abu Sayyaf members were killed and eight government soldiers were injured in a firefight in Patikul town in Sulu on Wednesday night, a military official reported yesterday.
Three bodies of the Abu Sayyaf casualties were recovered and were identified as Guro Khalid, Udal Muhamadar Said and one alias Budah, according to Maj. Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the AFP Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City.
Encinas said the Abu Sayyaf members who figured in the fight were members of the group that attacked troops from the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Danag, also in Patikul town, last Friday that left 12 soldiers dead and 13 others injured.
Encinas said troops from the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion were conducting a combat operation when they caught up with an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf men in Barangay Latih in Patikul at around 6 p.m. Wednesday. The bandits withdrew after a 30-minute firefight.
“While pursuing the enemies, troops recovered three enemy cadavers and discovered bloodstains in the encounter area,” said Encinas.
Quoting Joint Task Force Sulu commander Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Encinas said: “Based on reports, three more enemies were killed and many others were wounded.”
Encinas said the eight soldiers injured in the fight were initially brought to Camp Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in Jolo, Sulu and later transferred to the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City.
Also recovered at the encounter site were personal belongings of 21st IB soldiers carted away by the bandits in last week’s attack.
Wesmincom chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said pursuit operations are ongoing against the bandits.
“We are sustaining our focused military operations in Sulu to finish the Abu Sayyaf Group and bring about peace in the said province. Please continue to pray for the safety of our soldiers who render unselfish service to win the peace as we equally worship for our protection against COVID-19,” said Sobejana.