1 Sayyaf killed, 2 others wounded in Sulu clashes

AN ABU Sayyaf fighter was killed and two others were wounded in clashes in Sulu on Thursday morning, the military said.

Soldiers from the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion figured with about 30 Abu Sayyaf members under sub-leader Jul Aksan alias Halimao in Barangay (village) Sawaki in Indanan at about 10:45 a.m., a report from Joint Task Group Sulu commander Colonel Allan Arrojado said on Thursday.

The slain ASG was identified as Dindin Majan, a follower of ASG sub-leader Marajan Aseri.

A wounded Abu Sayyaf was identified as alias Julpikal. From the government side, one soldier was also wounded but was not identified pending the notification of his family.

The group fled towards Sitio Purot and Barangay Kuppong, Arrojado said.

Before the encounter, the soldiers recovered two motorcycles, which were allegedly abandoned by Abu Sayyaf in the same area at about 8 a.m.

Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the gunmen were holding hostages but did not say how many. In Indanan, there are about five hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf. AC