3 Marine soldiers shot dead by suspected Abu Sayyaf men

ZAMBOANGA CITY—Three Marine soldiers were shot dead by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Indanan, Sulu, around 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Major Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, did not provide the identities of the slain soldiers except to say they were members of the Field Artillery Battalion under Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 (MBLT10).

“Reports from ground units disclosed the three soldiers were procuring provisions in Barangay Manilop, Indanan, when they were waylaid and shot by the suspects,” Tan said.

He said responding soldiers failed to catch up with the suspects, who immediately fled.

The bodies of the victims had  been bought to Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo town, he said./rga