5 Abu men killed, 2 soldiers and 7 others wounded in Sulu clashes

By: Julie Alipala - 8 years ago

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

Soldiers in action against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. AFP FILE PHOTO / STRINGER

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Five suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while nine others – including two soldiers – were injured in separate clashes in Sulu on Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said the clashes took place in Barangay Pugad Manaul in Panamao, Sulu.

He said the group that the soldiers clashed with was led by Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya.

“First, there was an encounter of 30 minutes and the kidnappers withdrew, and another unit engaged them in a bloody firefight for 45 minutes,” Galvez said. SFM/rga