MANILA, Philippines – Six Abu Sayyaf Group bandits were killed in two separate clashes with the military over the weekend.
Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the operations were part of efforts to rescue the remaining kidnap victims of the Abu Sayyaf.
An Abu Sayyaf bandit, identified as “Jailade” was killed while four others were wounded after an encounter with troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion in Brgy. Kabbuntakas in Patikul, Sulu at around 2 p.m. Saturday.
Five soldiers were also wounded in the 45-minute encounter.
On Sunday, five Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in a clash with elite troops from the 2nd Special Forces Battalion in Sitio Huton Mahablo, Brgy. Silangkan in Indanan Sulu at around 3 p.m.
Two soldiers were slightly wounded.
One of the bandits killed was identified as Sibih Pisih, a subgroup leader of the Abu Sayyaf under Radullan Sahiron.
Sobejana said Pisih was one of the original subgroup leaders of the Abu Sayyaf before the group split into two.
Pisih is accused of kidnappings in the boundaries of Tawi-Tawi and Sabah, Malaysia. He has a pending warrant of arrest for the massacre of 22 civilians in Talipao, Sulu in 2014.
Recovered from the bandits were firearms, including an M653 rifle, one barret sniper rifle and ammunition.
GSG