ZAMBOANGA CITY: Government troops have cornered some 300 Abu Sayyaf gunmen following last Friday’s clashes that left five soldiers and scores of the bandits dead in Talipao, Sulu.
Captain Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), yesterday said intelligence reports revealed many from the Abu Sayyaf were killed and wounded during the encounter.
Troops from the Army’s 1st Scout Ranger Company headed by Lt. Michael Asistores were reported to have killed 30 bandits.
Sulu Joint Task Group commander Colonel Allan Arojado confirmed that more than 30 bandits were killed, with 10 of them so far identified, including Hairulla Asbang, the brother-in-law of bandit group leader Radullah Sahiron, and Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Juli Ekit.
According to Arojado, the bandits were seen with two European hostages.
He said the troops were able to overrun the Abu Sayyaf position at about 3 am yesterday with troops now pursuing the gunmen at Sitio Kan Amat, Barangay Bagsak, Patikul.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
