1 suspected Abu Sayyaf, 1 Cafgu wounded in Basilan clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group was killed while a militiaman was wounded in an encounter at Sampinit Complex in Barangay Masola in Isabela City around 5:30 p.m. on February 25.

Police Lieutenant Colonel William Gadayan, police chief of Isabela, identified the wounded as Boy Hashim, a Cafgu member assigned at the Crusher Patrol Base, and a resident of Barangay Kapayawan.

The unidentified member of the Abu Sayyaf was killed where the special forces recovered an M14 rifle with seven magazines with 10 live ammunition.

“The body was brought to La Isabela Funeral Homes waiting for post mortem examination and for proper disposition,” Gadayan said.

The Isabela City Police learned about the encounter through Capt. Artemio Sombrio Jr., the 4th Special Forces Battalion commander based in Cabunbata village in Isabela City.

Sombrio appeared at the police station on Tuesday morning, February 26, to report the encounter.

The teams under Lt. Bilver Butale and Lt. Charl Vincent Mabansag were conducting a security patrol in Sampinit Complex when they were greeted by shots from the bandits./lzb