15 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Sulu clashes

At least 15 members of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, including a subleader, were killed in two separate encounters in Patikul, Sulu on Friday, the Philippine Army said in a GMA News report yesterday.

In a report released to the media, the PA's Special Operations Command (SOCOM) said 15 bandits were killed in two separate clashes with the military– one erupted at about 6:15 a.m. Friday in Sitio Tubig Magkawas and another at noon in Sitio Pangi. Both areas are situated between Barangay Langhub and Barangay Bungkaong in Patikul town.

The SOCOM said the bodies of six slain Abu Sayyaf Group members were recovered at the encounter sites, while nine bodies were hauled away by the fleeing bandits.

According to the SOCOM, the recovered bodies have been turned over to the Sulu Provincial Police Office, including the remains of ASG sub-leader Mohammad Said, aliasAma Maas, who had standing arrest warrants for the kidnapping and beheading of two Canadians last year.

Also, Said was supposedly involved in the kidnappings of Norwegian Kjartan Sikkengstad who is still a captive, and the Filipina Maritess Flor, who was released last June.

Five of the fatalities were identified by the military as: Omar Salih, Harun Salih-both sons of Said; Latip Sapie, sub leader of Said; Aswad (last name unknown) alias Amaun; and Asmadul (last name unknown).

"Actually, the two encounters inflicted 15 fatalities on theASG but only six were left behind near the troops and the rest were taken away by the ASG," the SOCOM said in its report. A total og 17 PAScout Rangers were wounded during the encounter, it said.

Moreover, the SOCOM said that theASG bandits that engaged the security forces in Patikul were led by certain Raddulan Sahiron (alias Putol), Kahal Mohammad (alias Ama Maas), Haurulla Asbang (alias Hai), and a certain Latip Sapie.

Friday's clashes came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to "destroy" the ASG, following the beheading of its 18-year-old Filipino hostage Patrick Almodovar.

Over a dozen hostages are still being held in Sulu by the ASG, which has links to the al-Qaeda international terror network.