Patikul, Sulu (Wikipedia maps)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two people were killed while four others were wounded when suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits waylaid a private vehicle in Patikul, Sulu on Thursday.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, the Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the jeep was passing by Barangay Latih around 7:30 a.m. when fired at by at least eight Abu Sayyaf gunmen on a Tamaraw FX.
“Immediately, the JTF units together with the local police rushed to the place of incident to conduct an investigation and pursuit operation. Checkpoint operations around the area were also established to apprehend the perpetrators,” he said.
Sobejana identified the two slain men as Muksin Kaidin and Mukim Kaidin. The injured were Buddiman Abdurahman of Anuling, Patikul; Alsimar Estino of Capitol site, Patikul; Wahid Tinil, of Anuling, Patikul; and Denden Baladji, also of Patikul.
A source said the victims were military assets and on their way to the JTF headquarters.
Sobejana did not directly confirm or deny the information.
“They are just a few of the many concerned citizens, who wanted peace to reign in the province of Sulu,” he said instead. /jpv