ZAMBOANGA CITY — Pursuing government forces killed three Abu Sayyaf bandits and recovered two firearms in a clash in the hinterlands of Sulu, a top military official said Saturday.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the clash happened at around 2:30 p.m. Friday at Sitio Buling-Buling, Barangay Su-uh, Old Panamao town.
Sobejana disclosed the troops were on combat patrol when they clashed with 20 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Radullan Sahiron.
Sahiron, known as the one-armed bandit leader, is the oldest among the remaining leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Sobejana said the firefight lasted for about 10 minutes after which the ASG members fled to different directions leaving behind their slain comrades.
He identified them as the following: Peping Jamalul, brother-in-law of Sahiron; Aldi Abtahi, son of ASG sub-leader Amlon; and, Nelson Rajak.
He said the remains of the slain ASG members were turned over to the barangay officials for proper disposition.
He said the troops have recovered from the clash site one M-16 Armalite rifle and one caliber .45 pistol with ammunition.
“We attributed the latest combat success against this notorious Abu Sayyaf Group to the local government unit and residents of Panamao who pinpointed their location,” he said.
“We are grateful not just to them but to all peace-loving Tausugs who are positively responding to our call to end terrorism in Sulu,” he added.
He added that they will be able to neutralize the remaining ASG members and attain peace which is the key to development with the active support of the peace-loving residents of the province. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
