ASG bomb expert slain in Sulu, 5 others surrender
An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-leader was killed in an encounter with military troops in Patikul, Sulu early Wednesday morning while another subleader and four of his members surrendered.
Western Mindanao Command Operating troops composed of intelligence operatives from the Philippine Marines Ready Force Sulu, Marine Base Landing Team-1 and Military Intelligence Division-2 led by Captain Cadatal together with the 52nd Special Action Company, 5th Special Action Battalion led by Police Senior Inspector Simon, Jr. conducted a joint law enforcement operation during the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday at Kalimayahan Village, Latih, Patikul, Sulu that led to the killing of ASG sub-group leader Absulajim Abdulgani a.k.a Suraka Ingog and the recovery of one caliber 45 pistol with magazine, 10 rounds of caliber 45 ammunition, 3 rounds 7.62 ammunition, and Php2, 421.00 cash.
Abdulgani was a bomb expert and listed as number 5 in the Periodic Status Report under late Muamar Askali Group.
Meanwhile, ASG leader Ali Hassan and members Omar Innol, Simal Alam, Kimbo Alam, and Hayudini Amil, a bomb expert, yielded to troops of the Marine Base Landing Team-1 under the Joint Task Force Sulu and surrendered four M1 Garand Rifles at around 9 a.m. on August 15.
The surrender was facilitated by the MBLT-1 led by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cabanlet together with the Philippine Marines Ready Force-2, intelligence units, and the 52nd Special Action Company of the Philippine National Police led by Police Inspector Uy.
The former terrorists are undergoing medical check-up and custodial debriefing at the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu.
Military reports indicated that on August 13 at around 4:30 p.m., troops of the 41st Infantry Battalion under 1st Lieutenant Capat, while conducting focused military operations, encountered an undetermined number of ASG members in Barangay Tigian, Buhanginan, Sulu.
The Abus immediately scampered to different directions when the firefighting started and immediately fled the area of encounter.
The encounter resulted in the wounding of two soldiers while casualties on the enemy side were still being determined.
Troops of the 45th and 32nd Infantry Battalions were then deployed to establish blockade while the two wounded soldiers were promptly evacuated to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for immediate medical attention.
On August 14, the two wounded soldiers were airlifted to a hospital in Zamboanga City.
A progress report submitted by the Joint Task Force Sulu showed that the encounter also resulted in the killing of one terrorist and the wounding of six others.
The slain ASG member was identified as Ulla Laduan while two of the six wounded were identified as Ben Ulamah and Jehad Usman, residents of Barangay Danag, Patikul, Sulu.
The Joint Task Force Sulu is continuously implementing its all-out campaign in eradicating the eradicating the terrorists in the province.