AN Abu Sayyaf bandit died while a government soldier was wounded in a clash in Indanan town in Sulu on Tuesday morning, the military reported on Wednesday.
Troops from the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion on a combat operation encountered about 20 Abu Sayyaf men in Barangay Tumatangis at around 7:36 a.m., leading to a firefight.
“The firefight lasted for nine minutes after which our enemies withdrew. Our troops are in pursuit of the fleeing bandits,” said Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Sulu.
The firefight resulted in the death of one of the bandits and the recovery of an M16 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher.
The wounded soldier, who was not identified, is now recuperating, according to Vinluan.
AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said: “The terror groups are taking advantage of the situation wherein some of our troops are deployed to assist the local government units in the battle against COVID-19.”
Sobejana added the military remain focused on doing their twin mission of going after the terrorists and helping in the efforts against COVID-19.
“Rest assured our focused military operations will not falter; we have enough forces to hunt and pound these terrorists, and we will compel them to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law,” said Sobejana
