ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Five Abu Sayyaf members were killed while six soldiers were among those wounded in a military offensive in Patikul, Sulu on Tuesday, the military reported yesterday.
Four of the wounded soldiers were brought to the Camp Navarro General Hospital.
Soldiers of the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion launched the operation after being tipped off on the presence of the bandits in Barangay Panglayahan, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said.
“The Rangers managed to get as close as 20 meters...and were able to fire at close range,” Galvez said. “They were very careful due to the possible presence of kidnap victims.”
Galvez said the bandits were caught by surprise and engaged the soldiers in a shootout as they escaped.
Capt. Jay Maravilla, 4th Scout Ranger Company (src) commander, said there was no immediate sighting of kidnap victims.
The Abu Sayyaf is still holding a Dutch man, a Vietnamese, three Indonesians and five Filipinos in the mountains of Sulu.
“We believe the Abu Sayyaf suffered more casualties because of heavy bloodstains,” Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said.
Sobejana said two M16 rifles and personal belongings of the bandits were recovered at the scene.
Personnel of the 32nd Infantry Battalion were deployed to block the possible withdrawal route of the Abu Sayyaf.
Marawi soldier hurt
S/Sgt. Antonio Basa, one of the heroes in the fighting in Marawi, is one of two soldiers seriously wounded in the gunfight and confined in the intensive care unit of a private hospital.
Basa, whose unit was sent to reinforce troops in Marawi, was thrice wounded in the fighting, but decided to stay in the battlefield until the city was liberated of Maute militants.
Basa was also wounded in 2016 when he led the 14th src in an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.
Galvez said Basa would receive a Gold Cross medal, adding that he would recommend a presidential award.