3 suspected Abu Sayyaf killed in clash with gov’t troops in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Three suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were killed while nine others, including three soldiers, were wounded in an encounter at Sitio Bato Maputi, Barangay Baguindan in the Basilan town of Tipo-tipo over the weekend.

Brigadier General Domingo Gobway, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, said soldiers were tracking down Abu Sayyaf subleader Pasil Basali, one of the remnants of the group led by Basilan based Abu Sayyaf chief Furuji Indama, when the encounter happened on Saturday, June 25.

Basali’s group was suspected to be behind the May 30 twin bombings in Isabela City and the June 20 bombing of Lamitan City Hall. Gobway confirmed that when firefight was going on, the military provided close air support to the troops on the ground.

Killed were alleged Abu Sayyaf members Halid Pimping, Amil Palluh and Arman Haddaman while the six wounded were identified only as a certain Hattab, Rohit, Saddam, Ommok, Abaas and Mar-e Rumong. The wounded soldiers included Corporal Reymark Remollino, Corporal Salem Jade Campaner and Pfc. Kenneth Balud, who all suffered minor wounds.

“They are confined in different hospitals in the cities of Lamitan and Zamboanga City and are now recuperating,” Gobway said. — Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

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