11 Abus, 3 soldiers killed in Sulu clashes

ZAMBOANGA CITY — At least 14, three of them soldiers, were killed when government security forces on a mission to rescue about a dozen people held by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province clashed with the bandit group on Sunday and Monday, a military commander said.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu, said 10 Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while 15 others—12 soldiers and three bandits—were wounded in the clash that erupted at Barangay Tanum in Patikul town on Sunday.

He said soldiers were conducting an operation at Sitio Kan Alas when they clashed with the bandits at 6:15 a.m.

‘Foreign-looking’

On Monday, a bandit was also killed during a clash at Sitio Bud Kaha in Barangay Maligay at noon.

But in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Carlito Galvez, said three bandits, including a “foreign-looking” man, were killed in the encounter.

“Our troops were continuously doing security, search and rescue [to ensure the] freedom of the kidnap victims, resulting in an encounter with an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members,” Sobejana said.

One soldier was killed while five more were wounded during Monday’s clash, he added.

Among those being rescued were PO3 Bennie Rose Alvarez and PO1 Dinah Gumahad, who were assigned in the Western Mindanao police office here. They were being held since April 29.

Sobejana said Abu Sayyaf subleaders Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, Idang Susukan, Injam Yadah and Ben Tattoh were with the group that engaged the soldiers in the gunfight on Sunday that lasted for about an hour.

Four of the slain bandits were identified as Amah Talah, Taha Sawadjaan (younger brother of Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan), Long Abraham and one known only as Red.

Sobejana said soldiers recovered a baby Armalite, bullets, bomb components, mobile phones and batteries from the clash site.

Shallow grave

Shortly before Monday’s clash, soldiers pursuing the bandits discovered a shallow grave where three men, believed to be Abu Sayyaf members slain on Sunday, were buried.

“We will sustain our efforts until the last kidnap victim is rescued and the Abu is neutralized,” Sobejana said.

On May 7, a clash also erupted in Patikul while soldiers were searching for the two police officers and other victims held by the Abu Sayyaf.

Seven soldiers were wounded while three bandits were killed in that clash. —WITH A REPORT FROM JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE