Army Scout Rangers on parade. INQUIRER FILE
One Army junior officer was killed, and seven other soldiers were wounded in continuing operations against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu on Wednesday.
Major Filemon Tan, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said that based on intelligence reports, 10 members of the Abu Sayyaf were killed and 10 were wounded in the clashes that took place in Sitio Sangay in Barangay Buhanginan in Patikul.
The slain officer was identified as Second Lieutenant Ronald Detalla of the First Scout Ranger Battalion.
Seven more from the same unit were wounded: Captain Edmar Samonte, Staff Sergeant Wilson Fontanil, Sergeant Arthur Andama, Private First Class Ernie de Guzman, Pfc Joemar Andrez, Pfc Dennis Desembrana and Pfc Albery Dinion.
All the wounded are in stable condition and will be brought to Camp Navarro Hospital in Zamboanga City for treatment, Tan said.
The soldiers on “focused military operation” engaged about 100 Abu Sayyaf terrorists under Hajan Sawadajaan in a one-and-a-half-hour gun battle.
The military has been doing intensified military operations in Sulu to free foreign hostages taken by the militant group.
Early this week, two Marines were killed when the Abu Sayyaf attacked a military detachment in Talipao town.
Also this month, the military conducted a week-long military operation in nearby Basilan against the Abu Sayyaf and they were able to seize a terrorist camp. Three soldiers were killed and 26 were wounded in the operation.
Malaysian jihadist Mohammad Najib Hussein alias Abu Anas, was reportedly killed in the operations.