Patikul, Sulu (Wikipedia maps)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Twelve persons – 10 Abu Sayyaf bandits and two soldiers – were killed in a clash that ensued in the course of the military’s continued search and rescue operations for kidnap victims in Sulu.
Fifteen others were wounded in the clash that took place Sunday in Barangay Tanum in Patikul town at about 6:15 a.m., said Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, on Monday.
Sobejana said soldiers were operating in Sitio Kan Alas when they clashed with Abu Sayyaf bandits.
“Our troops encountered a number of combined elements of Abu Sayyaf. The Abu sub leaders who were involved were Hajan Sawadjaan, Idang Susukan, Injam Yadah and Ben Tattoh. The volley of fire lasted for about an hour then the enemy disengaged,” Sobejana said.
Four of the slain bandits were identified as Amah Talah, Taha Sawadjaan (younger brother of Abu sub leader Hatib Sawadjaan), an alias Red and a Long Abraham.
Sobejana said recovered from the site of the clash were a baby Armalite, rounds of ammunition, and explosive components such as canisters of ammonium nitrate, cellphones, batteries, electronic mechanism.
“The wounded are being treated in our hospital. We will sustain our efforts until the last kidnap victim is rescued and the Abu is neutralized,” Sobejana said. /cbb