Gov’t troops find body of suspected Abu Sayyaf member after Basilan clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military recovered the remains of a suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province on Tuesday (March 19), after a brief encounter.

Brigadier General Fernando Reyeg, commander of the 104th Army Brigade said, there was a sporadic gunfight around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday at Barangay Bohe Pahu in Ungkaya Pukan.

“Our troops clashed with the group of Furuji Indama. There were about 10 bandits and it led to the death of one of their fighters. We were able to seize one of their high-powered weapons, an M16 rifle.”

Reyeg said a second encounter transpired after 15 minutes but no one was reported killed, no casualties reported on the side of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion.

“Our troops scoured Barangay Pahu, we continue launching combat operation against the Abu Sayyaf, it’s a focused military operation to avoid displacing communities,” Reyeg said.

Since 2017, this was the first time, troops engaged with bandits under Indama.

Lt. General Arnel Dela Vega, commander, Western Mindanao Command said in a statement: “We commit to sustain our campaign against terrorism that derails peace and development in the area of operations.”

He added: “We work hard to crumble terrorists and to address security threats by intensifying our offensives and by involving stakeholders and the people of Mindanao.”