21 Abu bandits killed in clashes

Philippine soldiers walk along a highway as they return to camp after an armed encouter with members of militant group Abu Sayyaf at the village of Bongkaong, Patikul town, Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao on August 26, 2016. Philippine security officials killed six members of militant group Abu Sayyaf on August 26 including one involved in the kidnapping of two Canadians who were beheaded in the troubled south, the military said. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Three leaders of the Abu Sayyaf  bandit group and 18 followers have been killed in two days of clashes with government troops, the military reported on Sunday.

Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz, chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), identified the slain bandit leaders as Mohammad Said, alias Amah Maas; Sairul Asbang, and a certain Abu Latip.

De la Cruz said 17 soldiers had been wounded in clashes with the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu province, since Aug. 26.

He said troops recovered the bodies of 10 slain bandits, including the body of Said.

Said’s group was behind the kidnapping of three Westerners and a Filipino woman from a marina on Samal Island, Davao del Norte province, in September last year.

The bandits beheaded two of the Westerners—Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall—after the Canadian government refused to pay ransom for the two men’s freedom.

Filipino Maritess Flor was released without ransom in June and, according to President Duterte, P50 million had been paid for the freedom of Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad.

Sekkingstad, however, remains in captivity.

Wanted for murder

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson for Wesmincom, earlier said Said had five standing warrants of arrest for murder.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ public affairs office, said the bodies of the other slain bandits were not recovered by troops because these were carried away by their fleeing comrades.

Troops recovered two M16s and an M203 grenade launcher, Arevalo said, quoting a report from Brig. Gen. Arnel de la Vega, chief of the military’s Joint Task Force Sulu.

In three clashes from Aug. 11 to Aug. 27, the task force had captured two Abu Sayyaf bandits, recovered high-powered firearms and three homemade bombs, and rescued two kidnap victims, De la Vega reported.

Another victim freed

The report said another kidnap victim was released, but did not identify the victim and the two others who were rescued.

Tan said earlier that more than 1,200 troops, including special forces commandos, had been thrown into battle with the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul and other parts of Sulu.

De la Cruz earlier said offensives launched by the military were focused and deliberate to ensure the safety of Abu Sayyaf captives.

“We are very careful in the operation so as not to harm kidnap victims. Besides, we have intelligence information about the location of hostages while they are moving,” he said.

The President last week ordered the military to destroy the Abu Sayyaf after the bandits beheaded an 18-year-old captive, Patrick James Almodovar, whose family failed to pay the P1-million ransom demanded for the boy’s release. With a report from Jaymee T. Gamil in Manila