18 ASGs killed; body of beheaded German found
ZAMBOANGA CITY/CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City — Four more Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) gunmen were killed yesterday in a pre-dawn encounter with soldiers from the Marine Special Operations Group in Lumipao, Sulu, bringing to 18 the number of bandits dead since the military began its intensified hunt two weeks ago.
The death toll update on the side of the ASG came as the military confirmed that the body of beheaded German hostage Jurgen Gustav Kantner was recovered in Indanan, Sulu.
Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay
Armed, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom), said the 4:30 a.m. encounter also resulted in the wounding of several ASG members and the seizure of seven high-powered firearms at the combat site.
Petinglay said Colonel Cirilito Sobejana of the Joint Task Force Sulu deployed the marines after informants reported to him the presence of the bandits in the area since Saturday night.
Soldiers from the 64th Marine Company, Marine Special Operations Group under 1Lt Alvarez, responded and conducted focused military operations in the village that led to a heavy gunbattle with the bandits.
Earlier, Petinglay said encounters between government troops and the Abu Sayyaf has already resulted in the death of 14 bandits and the wounding of six others.
There was an additional two deaths of Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu and two more in Basilan over the weekend.
Petinglay said four major encounters – three in Sulu Province (the 69th Infantry Battalion and the Abu Sayyaf in Barangay Palique, Indanan; 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion against the ASG in Indanan; and the 32nd IB against ASG members in Patikul, Sulu) and one encounter in Basilan (between the Naval SOU6 led by LTJG Mildner Cawi against ASG members in Barangay Darapatu, Al Barka, Basilan) allowed the troops to gain ground in the two provinces.
This also disallowed the bandits to establish encampments in said areas.
This series of encounters also led to the recovery of IED components and the discovery of an ASG encampment.
While advancing and conducting clearing operations in the area of Sitio Bohe Buug, Barangay Macalang, Al Barka in Basilan Province, the rangers discovered an enemy encampment with 30 make-shift bunkers and 16 foxholes, she said.
Petinglay said although there were no bodies recovered, the locals provided the information to operating troops that bandits carried with them their wounded and some were immediately buried in separate areas near the encounter sites.
On the other hand, four notorious ASG members were turned-over by elements of the Joint Task Force Basilan led by Army Colonel Juvymax Uy to the police after troops of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion apprehended said bandits who were carrying IED components in their possession last February 27.
Abu Sayyaf members Hamja Ummal, Asid Abdul Pagong, Kili Alvarez Sabtal, and Hamidid Pantasan were turned-over to the Basilan Provincial Police Office under Police Senior Superintendent Panapan for the filing of appropriate charges.
Ummal and Pagong were apprehended by troops of 3SRBn led by Lt. Col. Elmer Suderio who were conducting combat operations in Barangay Danapah, Albarka while Sabtal and Pantasan were nabbed by the same unit in Barangay Danapah, TipoTipo, BP and were found to be carrying IED components.
Kantner’s body found Elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 under the JTFSulu recovered last Saturday the body of Kantner, the German hostage beheaded by the ASG, in Sitio Talibang, Barangay Buanza, Indanan, Sulu.
Maj. Gen. Carlito G. Galvez Jr., WestMinCom commander, said JTF Sulu Commander Sobejana immediately requested for the Scene of the Crime Operative (SOCO) Sulu to conduct site preservation for evidence and post-mortem procedure after troops cordoned the area where the Kantner’s body was found at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Galvez said the remains of Kantner shall be kept at the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital Morgue while completing the documentary requirements prior to transport.
“We will coordinate with the appropriate offices for the disposition of the remains of the victim,” Galvez said.
“Rest assured that the AFP and the entire WestMinCom will maximize all means and efforts to rescue the remaining kidnapped victims,” he added.
Kantner was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu last February 26, 2017 after almost 4 months in captivity in the forested areas of Sulu.
Palace: Punishment due
The government has vowed to ensure the cruel and “mindless acts” of the Abu Sayyaf will “not go unpunished” after troops recovered the remains of Kantner in Sulu
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella extended anew the government’s sympathies to the family of Kantner and assured the government is determined to address the “evils of extremism and plain banditry.” .(With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)