Westmincom captures wounded Abu Sayyaf sub-leader in Sulu
April 1, 2018 | 10:30am
In this file photo, troops unload assorted ammunition and artillery rounds from a military C-130 plane. Philstar.com/John Unson, file
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Government forces captured an Abu Sayyaf group sub-leader who was wounded in a clash in the jungles of Sulu on Saturday.
The military said troops were on a rescue operation for 10 Abu Sayyaf captives when they came across five militants led by Walton Juljirin at Sitio Kan Bading, Barangay Taung, Patikul town on Saturday morning.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said the troops launched the rescue operation after the local community tipped them off to the presence of a group of Abu Sayyaf believed to have hostages with them.
Galvez said soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Battalion engaged the Abu Sayyaf for five minutes before the bandits ran off, leaving behind a wounded comrade.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said clearing and pursuit operations led to Juljirin's capture.
The troops also recovered an FN-G1 rifle, magazines, ammunitions, suspected Improvised Explosive Devices, and two hand grenades.
Sobejana said the wounded bandit leader was given first aid and then brought to the headquarters of the 501st Brigade in Barangay Tagbak, Indanan town.
The military officials said Juljirin's group is under a faction led by Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Mundi Sawadjaan, nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Hajan Sawadjaan.
Juljirin's group is believed responsible for a series of bombings along the highway of Patikul, Sulu. It was also the liquidation squad of Sawadjaan's group, said Galvez.
He said Westmincom troops have neutralized 84 Abu Sayyaf members between January and March this year. Of those "neutralized", 60 had surrendered to the troops, 13 arrested and 11 were killed in military offensives.
Galvez added the command's priority is the rescue of Abu Sayyaf's hostages — a Dutch national, a Vietnamese, three Indonesians, and five Filipinos.
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