Suspected Abu Sayyaf killed in Basilan clash

MANILA, Philippines—A suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit was killed in an encounter with government security forces in Basilan early Tuesday, a military spokesman said.

In a statement, Amy spokesman Colonel Antonio Parlade said that a 35-man platoon of the military’s Special Forces were conducting combat and rescue mission in Bulan-bulan village, Lantawan town when they encountered five heavily armed bandits believed to be Abu Sayyaf members and triggered a gunfight at around 5:30 am Tuesday.

The firefight lasted for about five minutes before the bandits escaped leaving behind a dead comrade identified as Otoy Dambung, Parlade said. No casualties on the government side were reported.

An M1 Garand rifle and a shotgun were also recovered from Dambung’s body, the military spokesman said.

In the same statement, Colonel Alexander Macario, commander of the Special Operation Task Force – Basilan, said that Dambung had a pending arrest warrant issued by Judge Danilo Bucoy of the local trial court of Basilan for several murder charges.

The killed bandit was brought to Bulan-bulan village and will be turned over to the local police, Parlade said.