Up to 5 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Sulu bomb run—official

MANILA, Philippines—Up to five Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed from a military bomb run in Indanan, Sulu, military officials said Monday.

Western Mindanao Command spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbag said that two of the three recovered fatalities from Sunday’s bombing on the Abu Sayyaf camp in Barangay (village) Karawan were ASG sub-leaders Ben Wagas and Apo Mike. Another ASG member recovered was identified as Abu Abad.

Cabangbang, in an update Monday, said that two more bandits were reported killed and were identified as Sali Madarang and a certain Andag.

The fatalities were said to be under ASG leader Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu, he said.

Cabangbang said Dr. Abu had reported links with Jemaah Islamiyah members Marwan, a Malaysian national, and Mauwiyah, a Singaporean.

Joint Task Force Sulu Island Commander Brigadier General Romeo Tanalgo said that clearing operations from the attack started about 6 a.m. Monday.

He added that they still have to validate reports that deaths have reached at least 10, with Dr. Abu wounded, but so far they “do not have the evidence” to back up the reports.

Tanalgo estimated that about 30 to 40 members of the ASG were encamped in the area.

There were also no internally displaced persons, as the nearest civilian community was one kilometer away, Tanalgo added.