ZAMBOANGA CITY — Government troops clashed with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in two separate areas as the military sustain its offensive against the group in the province of Sulu, a military official said Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the first clash happened around 9:05 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu.
Besana said troops from the Army’s 5th Scout Ranger Battalion were on security operation when they clashed with a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Barangay Latih.
He said the second fighting occurred around 3 p.m. Tuesday in Barangay Tugas, also in the municipality of Patikul, when the troops of the Army’s 1st Scout Ranger Battalion clashed with the group of ASG sub-leader Mujer Yadah while conducting a separate security operation.
The ASG bandits were believed to have suffered casualties in both clashes.
“The Western Mindanao Command is committed to sustain its operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu and Basilan. We will not falter until the last bandit will be neutralized,” Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief, said.
“With the support of the local chief executives, stakeholders, and the community, our campaign against terrorism will soon bear the fruit of lasting peace and prosperity not only in Sulu and Basilan but the entire Western Mindanao,” dela Vega added.
The ASG is still holding 10 hostages, consisting of three Indonesians, a Dutch and a Vietnamese, and five Filipinos. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr./PNA)
