5 Abu Sayyaf members killed in military offensive

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least five Abu Sayyaf militants were killed and a jungle camp was overrun in an offensive launched Sunday by the government troops in Basilan.

The troops under the Joint Task Group Basilan staged the attack about 7:30 a.m. after an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members were caught in the forested hinterland of Sumisip town, said Capt. Maria Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

“The fighting raged more than an hour resulting to the death of five Abu Sayyaf members and undetermined wounded,” Muyuela said.

The government troops with the civilian volunteers conducted clearing operations an hour later which led to the capture of the camp,  Col. Rolando Joselito Bautista, commander of the 104th Army Brigade said.

Bautista said the troops discovered that the camp holds at least 10 nipa thatches with fortified trenches and foxholes, homemade shotgun, 40-millimeter ammunition, solar charger, wet cell battery, and several documents detailing the group’s activity. 

He said the fallen Abu Sayyaf camp can accommodate roughly about 50 people. 

The military official said the civilian volunteers in the area led them to the successful recovery of the camp, the second to fall in more than three weeks of continuous military operation in Basilan.