ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Several members of the Abu Sayyaf were believed to have been killed in an encounter with government troops in Patikul, Sulu yesterday, security officials said.
The encounter occurred in Sitio Kan Udang in Barangay Taglibi at past 9 a.m. as members of Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS) were pursuing Abu Sayyaf bandits behind the ambush of government troops last Sunday.
Col. Alan Arrojado, JTGS commander, said Hatib Hajan Sawajaan, who was behind the kidnapping of Malaysian businessmen and a German couple last year, led the group of militants.
Arrojado said a certain Murasil was among those killed.
The firefight raged for 45 minutes and the Abu Sayyaf sustained an undetermined number of casualties, according to Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command.
Muyuela said there was no reported casualty among the government troops.