Egyptian insurgent, 2 others slain in Sulu

AFOREIGN insurgent and his two companions were slain when the 11th Infantry Division clashed with members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Patikul, Sulu on Friday evening.

Army Brigade Commander Col. Benjamin Batara Jr. identified the slain terrorists as Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista of Jolo, Sulu, an Egyptian insurgent also known as Yusop of ASG, and Abu Khattab Jundullah alias Saddam, a trained explosives maker.

The third casualty has yet to be identified by the authorities. Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Public Information Officer Lt. Jerrica Angela Manongdo said an intelligence report was communicated to government troops about the presence of the insurgents in Barangay Igasan, Patikul, Sulu.

Government troops were immediately sent to the location, and a 10-minute gun fight ensued.

According to Batara, the three insurgents were under the group of Mudzrimar “Mundi” Sawadjaan, who was the behind the suicide bombings in Jolo on August 2020 as well as the Jolo Cathedral bombing on January 2019.

Joint Task Force-Sulu and 11th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. William Gonzales said government troops recovered an M653 rifle, an M203 grenade launcher, an R4 with scope, eight long magazines, one short magazine, 85 rounds of M16 ammunition, one round of M203 ammunition, two bandoliers and other personal belongings.

“It is significant to note that [the] foreign terrorist, alias Yusop, has been volunteering as a suicide bomber since joining the group of late Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan. He is the son of suicide bomber Siti Aisyah, who executed the thwarted Sept. 8, 2019 suicide attack that resulted [in] her death after a shoot-out with government forces at Barangay Tagbak, Indanan, Sulu. Meanwhile, alias Abdurahmil, who is Yusop’s stepfather, was also killed during a checkpoint operation at Barangay Ajid, Indanan also [in the] year 2019,” Gonzales said.

“This is one less suicide bomber. I commend our ground forces for this monumental accomplishment. These neutralized terrorists are the cohorts of Mundi in executing atrocities. Without them, the possibility of another attack is slimmer. Moreover, financial support sent to [the] ASG in Sulu from this foreign terrorist [affiliate is] cut off. All things considered, we are optimistic that Mundi will soon meet his end.”