6 Abu bandits slain in clash with soldiers

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Six Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in an encounter with government troops in Maluso town in Basilan yesterday.

Authorities said the bandits retreated after the gunfight that lasted for about an hour, bringing with them five of the fatalities. The body of one of the bandits and an M14 rifle were recovered at the scene.

Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said several bandits were also wounded in the clash. There was no reported casualty among government forces.

Personnel of the Charlie Company of the 68th Infantry Battalion were conducting combat operations in Barangay Abong-Abong when they encountered the bandits in Sitio Pali at about 8:45 a.m.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson, said personnel of the 3rd Tactical Operations Wing provided air support.

Sporadic firefights continued until noon yesterday as government troopers conducted pursuit operations for the bandits.

Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. gave assurance that there would be no letup in the operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

“The task forces under Westmincom are in full throttle to get the remaining Abu Sayyaf members and rescue their hostages,” Galvez said.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding a Dutch man, a Vietnamese, three Indonesians and five Filipinos.

The newest victim, Enrico Nee of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Sulu first district engineering office, was taken near his house in Jolo, Sulu last week.