10 Sayyaf men slain, 6 hurt in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Ten Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while six others were wounded in a clash with soldiers in Patikul, Sulu over the weekend. 

The encounter followed a firefight that lasted for over two hours in Barangay Kabuntakas on Saturday that left three soldiers dead and 21 others wounded.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said soldiers from the 35th Infantry Battalion clashed with around 150 bandits led by Radullan Sahiron, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, Yasser Igasan and Mujer Yadah. 

”The encounter was longer... because the  bandits had to retrieve their casualties,” Tan said.

”We have confirmed and validated through intelligence reports the identities of the fatalities. We know where they live because the civilians confirmed it to us,” he added.

The military is verifying reports that some Abu Sayyaf leaders were wounded in the firefight.

There was no sighting of any kidnap victim, but Tan said they could have been behind their captors.

“The Abu Sayyaf did not retreat immediately to buy time for their companions to slip out their captives,” he said.

Tan said Joint Task Force Sulu is leading military operations to rescue the remaining captives.  

Abu nabbed

Meanwhile, a former captive who joined the Abu Sayyaf was arrested in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi yesterday.

Sahiron reportedly tasked Josua Bani, 21, to be their “spotter” and conduct surveillance on potential kidnap victims.

Bani, his father Joseph and cousin Hajan Terong were kidnapped at a pier in Bongao in 2014. They were released after paying ransom.