6 soldiers, 2 Abus killed in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Six soldiers and two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in a 40-minute clash in Sulu on Friday, the military said.

Major Arvin John Encinas, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said troops of the 6th Special Forces Battalion were conducting combat operation at around 8:25 a.m in Sitio Lagaron of Barangay Kan-Ague in Patikul town when they encountered about 40 armed bandits.

Encinas added that 17 other soldiers were wounded in the 40-minute clash.

Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said that local residents told government forces that two bandits were killed although they did not see bodies.

“There was a lot of blood and brain seen in the ASG position but no body was found. They carried them. We still cannot confirm those killed from ASG,” Vinluan said.