Abu Sayyaf killed as military pounds terrorists in Sulu

An Abu Sayyaf militant was killed in one of two gunbattles with military troops in Sulu over the weekend.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu, under Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo Jr., said the body of Rakib Dahsul was found after troops scoured an encounter site in Barangay Upper Binuang, Talipao on Saturday.

Dahsul was a follower of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Apoh Mike, whose group was involved in kidnappings.

Pabayo said the brother of Idang Susukan, a key Abu Sayyaf leader, was seriously wounded in the firefight.

Soldiers also recovered two M16 rifles, magazines, and ammunition.

On Sunday morning, troops from the 2nd Special Forces Battalion engaged the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Anga Adji in Barangay Upper Binuang.

“Deliberate offensives against terrorists will be launch by the JTF Sulu to debilitate and inflict more casualties on the adversary,” said Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).

“While we are advancing on our campaign, we will sustain our offensives and employ more pressure on the terrorists,” Dela Vega added.

Col. Gerry Besana, WestMinCom spokesman, said that last Friday, Philippine Air Force planes conducted bomb runs targeting a group of 200 Abu Sayyaf under Radulan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in Sitios Agas-Agas and Limasan of Barangay Kabbun Takas, Patikul, Sulu.

Pabayo said the military has stepped up its offensives against the terrorist group following a tip that the Abu Sayyaf were converging in the hinterland of Patikul.