5 Abu Sayyaf members killed in gov't offensive

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least five Abu Sayyaf militants were killed and seven others were wounded in the offensive operation launched Saturday morning in the mountain of Talipao, Sulu.

No one was reported killed from the government troops when they stormed the harbor area of the Abu Sayyaf group led by its leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan about 7 a.m. in a remote village in Talipao.

Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command, said troops from Joint Task Group Sulu attacked the position of the Abu Sayyaf group, triggering more than an hour of firefight.

Police combat forces and other units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) implemented a blockade to prevent the military from merging with the populated areas and endangering civilians.

“The AFP, in coordination with the (Philippine National Police), continued to intensify the conduct of law enforcement operations in order to expedite the capture of lawless elements responsible for the series of atrocities in the province,” Muyuela added.