10 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed, 17 soldiers wounded in Jolo clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A clash between military troops and the Abu Sayyaf on Friday resulted in the death of 10 bandits, two of them grandsons of Radulan Sahiron, leader of the terrorist group. On the government side, 17 soldiers were injured in the encounter, the second this week since Sunday, when the bandits beheaded German hostage Jurgen Kantner.

The second encounter took place in Barangay Kanagi in Patikul town in Jolo Island, a few hours before President Rodrigo Duterte was set to arrive there, according to Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez, chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

The soldiers wounded in Friday’s clash were among those whom Duterte had visited, Galvez said.

Galvez said the soldiers sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Since operations intensified following Kantner’s beheading, a total of 28 soldiers had already been injured in Sulu.

On Wednesday, 11 soldiers were injured during a clash with the Abu Sayyaf in Barangay Babag in Indanan town. But five bandits were also reportedly killed in that clash.
.
Col. Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said those involved in the Indanan clash were led by Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Apo Mike Alhabsi, Ben Wagas, and Alden Bagadi.

The military has been conducting anti-Abu Sayyaf operations in Sulu in a bid to rescue some 33 hostages being held by the bandit group. It intensified its operations shortly after Kantner’s beheading. /atm