Marines kill 2 Abu Sayyaf men in Sulu clashes

MANILA, Philippines—Two suspected members of the homegrown terror group Abu Sayyaf, including a leader, were killed in separate clashes with government forces in the Abu Sayyaf bailiwick Sulu province early on Friday (Nov. 20), according to the military.

Soldiers from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 were on patrol at Bud Bawis Complex in the town of Panamao, Sulu when they clashed with the group of Hatib Munap Binda, an Abu Sayyaf leader, past 5 a.m., the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said.

The gun battle lasted for around 30 minutes, ending with the terror suspects fleeing. Marines found the body of Binda and two assault rifles.

Binda was said to be a senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf operating in the Sulu towns of Kalingalan, Caluang and Panamao. He was also an associate of Alhabsi Misaya, who was involved in a series of kidnappings in Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines, according to a statement quoting Wesmincom chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr.

An hour after the clash with Binda’s group, Marines also clashed with another Abu Sayyaf group led by Sansibar Bensio just a few meters from where the clash with Binda took place.

The clash with Bensio’s group lasted for at least 20 minutes, leaving a certain Bensio Barahama, an Abu Sayyaf member, dead. An M-14 rifle was found.

Barahama was the father of Abu Sayyaf leader Sansibar Bensio operating in the areas of Panamao, Omar and Luuk in Sulu, Vinluan was quoted as saying.

TSB