5 Abu Sayyaf slain, in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Five Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while a soldier was wounded in military operations in Tawi-Tawi  and Sulu over the weekend.

Oyong, Datu Solon and Rashida, all surnamed Maulana, and Nhadz Omar were killed in an encounter in Barangay Lakit, Sapa-Sapa, according to Brig. Gen. Camilo Balutan, commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi.   

“The group was known as a conduit of those behind kidnappings in the tri-boundary of Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines,” Balutan said in his report to the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom). 

Balutan said an M1 Garand rifle, a bandoleer with seven magazines loaded with bullets for a 5.56mm rifle, sachets of shabu, drug paraphernalia and cellular phones were recovered from the suspects in Barangay Lakit, Sapa-Sapa.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom said another bandit was killed in a military air strike on Sulare Island in Parang town.

 Sobejana said the 1102nd Infantry Brigade ordered the air strike after receiving reports that the bandits boarded a speedboat in the area.

The military said an M16 rifle, two bandoleers with ammunition, four cell phones and a twin engine speedboat were recovered during clearing operations.

The military offensive followed an alert from its Malaysian counterparts on the kidnapping of five Indonesian fishermen off Lahad Datu in Sabah on Friday.

In Patikul, Adamin Salem Nanong, 25, and his sibling Alkaisa, 21, surrendered and turned over their guns and ammunition in Barangay Liang on Friday.

Sobejana said the surrenderees are followers of sub-leader Majan Sahijuan, alias Apo Mike, and tagged in hijacking of foreign vessels and kidnapping in the waters at the common border of Malaysia and Philippines.

Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the siblings were also involved in a recent encounter with soldiers in Barangay Kuppong in Indanan.