Abu death toll hits 10 in Sulu offensive

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – The military confirmed at least 10 militants were killed in the offensive Friday against the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul, Sulu.

The firefight however left 17 soldiers injured, officials said.

Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS), said the troops clashed with about 150 militants from the combined groups of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

Sobejana said they have confirmed 10 Abu Sayyaf killed so far and several others wounded.

“The number of killed enemies could be even more but the fleeing Abu Sayyaf members managed to retrieve their casualties,” Sobejana said.

He said some of those killed have already been identified as well six of the wounded bandits.

 The fierce fighting initially erupted about 9 a.m. when troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion encountered the Abu Sayyaf at Barangay Taglibi.

The firefight lasted for over an hour with government troops utilizing crew-served weapons, supported by airstrike and ground artillery.

The heavy fighting left an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf casualties and at least 14 soldiers wounded, mostly from barrages of grenade launchers from the militants.

Capt. Jo-Ann Pentinglay, spokesperson for Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said MG520 helicopters staged airstrikes to prevent the militants from retrieving their casualties.

The firefight broke out a few hours before President Duterte arrived in Jolo on Friday where he visited some of the wounded troopers before flying to Cagayan del Oro.

Duterte went to visit the 14 wounded soldiers at Teodulfo Heneral Bautista Hospital in Busbus, Jolo and awarded them medals.

“The soldiers are more motivated now to fight the Abus and they will soon be back on field for combat in just a few days,” Westmincom commander Major Gen. Carlito Galvez said.

The military said fighting continued at Barangay Kanagi in Patikul as blocking forces engaged the fleeing militants.

Galvez urged all sectors of Sulu to continuously support the military in defeating the Abu Sayyaf.

“If we win this and defeat the Abu Sayyaf, this will definitely benefit every child, man, and woman of Mindanao,” Galvez said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Abu Sayyaf were left no choice but to consolidate their dwindling forces and fight it out with government troops.

Massive military actions have been launched against the bandits following last week’s beheading of German Juergen Kantner by the bandit group.

Lorenzana said the Abu Sayyaf numbering to around 400 had nowhere to run in Sulu and Basilan.

“Military actions will continue… We intend to finish these bandits to the last man in six months,” Lorenzana said. –Lino de la Cruz, Jaime Laude