Patikul (outlined in red) in Sulu (Image from Google Maps)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military on Sunday said an Abu Sayyaf subleader who was wounded during a recent firefight was captured during another clash in Patikul, Sulu on Saturday.
At the same time, the military denied a claim by the Islamic State that three soldiers were killed in Saturday’s firefight in Patikul.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said soldiers under the 32nd Infantry Battalion were conducting a search-and-rescue operation for Abu Sayyaf kidnap victims when informed that Walton Juljirin and four of his men were hiding in Sitio Kan Bading in Barangay Taung.
Sobejana said the soldiers went to check the reported hiding place of Juljirin and his men and clashed with the bandits.
He said Juljirin’s four men fled during the five minute firefight but left behind the Abu Sayyaf subleader, who had difficulty moving because of an infected wound.
“Our soldiers eventually captured Walton Juljirin, the ASG subleader during the clearing operation,” Sobejana said.
Lt. Col. Ronaldo Mateo, the 32nd IB commander, said none of his men was harmed during the clash.
Mateo said also recovered were a 7.62-mm FN-G1 rifle, some magazines and ammunition, suspected improvised explosive devices, and two hand grenades.
He said the captured subleader was immediately given medical attention before being brought to the headquarters of the 501st Brigade in Barangay Tagbak in Indanan town.
“The group of Walton Juljirin is under the group of ASG sub-leader Mundi Sawadjaan (a nephew of ASG leader Hajan Sawadjaan). His group was responsible in the series of IED and roadside bombings along the highway of Patikul, Sulu. Also, Juljirin’s group is the liquidation squad of Sawadjaan’s group,” said Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr., the commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
Galvez said Juljirin was the 14thAbu Sayyaf member captured since Jan. 1 this year.
“With the capture of Juljirin, we are optimistic that we will gain more grounds and soon defeat the Abu Sayyaf here in the island province,” Galvez added.
He said since January up to end-March, 11 bandits had already been killed in military operations in Sulu while 60 others had surrendered.
“Our priority is to find and rescue the remaining kidnap victims who are still in Sulu area. We are currently doubling our efforts towards that goal,” Galvez added. /atm