ZAMBOANGA CITY: Fighting erupted when the Abu Sayyaf group fired at a military helicopter providing supply to marines shortly before noon yesterday in the jungle of Patikul, Sulu, security officials said.
Colonel Jose Joriel Cenabre, commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Brigade and Task Force Sulu, said the government troops immediately launched airstrike with two MG-520 attack helicopters pounding with rockets and machinegun fire the position of the Abu Sayyaf militants at Barangay Tambang.
He said the Philippine Air Force helicopters were providing logistical supply and transport to marine troops based in the Abu Sayyaf-infested area of Patikul when they were fired upon about 11am yesterday.
Troops, militants clash in Albay
MANILA: Soldiers involved in peace and development projects were harassed on Wednesday by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Guinobatan, Albay. Army reports said an undetermined number of rebels harassed a team from the 2nd battalion in Sitio Danao, Barangay Ongo at about 6.15am, resulting in a firefight.
Government troops did not suffer casualties during the clash, which lasted for a minute.
The military, however, did not determine whether the insurgents sustained casualties.
Blast rocks Sibugay town
ZAMBOANGA CITY: An improvised bomb exploded Wednesday night and rocked a village in the coal-rich town of Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, according to police here.
Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, Spokesman of the Police Regional Office 9, said no one was reported hurt in the explosion.
However, villagers panicked as the explosion ripped the wall of the house of Jonathan Lorena Aming at Barangay Candiis about 11pm on Wednesday.
Agencies
