2 Abu Sayyaf bandits slain; soldiers clash with Mautes anew

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in clashes with government troopers in Basilan and Sulu in the past two days.

The military said one of the bandits was killed in an encounter in Barangay Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan at around 8:15 a.m. yesterday. 

Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, 104th Army Brigade and Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said an M16 rifle was recovered from the fatality.

Reyeg said personnel of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion clashed with another group of bandits in the same village. There was no reported casualty on both sides.

In Banguingui, an island town off Sulu, Hamza Hamad, 19, was killed in a gunfight with soldiers in Barangay Simusa at around 11:44 a.m. on Monday.

Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, said another bandit identified as Alvin Mohammad was wounded and brought to the headquarters of the Philippine Marine Ready Force-Sulu for treatment.

Besana said Mohammad admitted during tactical interrogation that his group led by a certain Najir Arik is running out of ammunition due to relentless military operations.

In Lanao del Sur, on Monday, personnel of the 55th Infantry Battalion clashed again with the remnants of the Maute group in Pagayawan town. No one was reported hurt among the soldiers.             

Four Maute militants and five soldiers were killed in gunfights in Lanao del Sur last week.