5 Sayyafs slain in Zambo town, 2 soldiers wounded

ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least 5 Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed and two soldiers wounded in fierce clashes Wednesday in Zamboanga Sibugay province in southern Philippines, officials said.

 Policemen man a checkpoint in Zamboanga City. Security forces kill at least 5 Abu Sayyaf gunmen in R.T. Lim town in the neighboring province of Zamboanga Sibugay on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, following sporadic battle since Sunday in Alicia town. (Zamboanga Post)

Officials said the fighting erupted in the village of President Roxas in the town of R.T. Lim where security forces caught up with a group of gunmen escaping a military operation from the nearby town of Alicia where a gunman had been killed and 2 soldiers and three civilians wounded in the battle in La Paz village.

Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, commander of the 44th Infantry Battalion, whose group is pursuing the terrorists, said they have killed 5 gunmen in the latest fighting, but two more soldiers were also wounded in the clashes before sunrise.

“This is the result of our pursuit operations against the armed elements of Abral Abdusalam and Sahibad Group led by Furuji Indama after our encounter in Barangay La Paz in Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay dawn of Sunday, September 6,” he said.

Templonuevo said troops recovered the bodies of the gunmen and their automatic weapons. The identities of the dead remain unknown, he said, adding, soldiers clashed with at least 10 armed men in the area. “Pursuit operation is still on-going,” he said.

Citing intelligence reports, Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, said the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf gunmen were on a kidnapping mission.  

Last October 4, gunmen led by a rogue leader Abdul Alip, of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, kidnapped a 70-year old British man, Allan Arthur Hyrons, and his Filipina wife, Welma Paglinawan, in Tukuran town in Zamboanga del Sur.

Alip handed over the couple to the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province where the pro-ISIS group demanded P50 million for the safe release of the victims. The victims were allegedly rescued by soldiers November 25 after a clash with the Abu Sayyaf.

Mayor Beng Climaco said security is tight in Zamboanga City since the twin suicide bombings in Sulu's capital town of Jolo late last month. She said roadblocks and checkpoints around the city are being guarded by soldiers and policemen and patrols continue even at night. 

The latest fighting coincided with the commemoration of rebel attacks in Zamboanga City by the followers of Moro National Liberation Front chieftain Nur Misuari  in 2013. The siege lasted for three weeks and left hundreds of people dead and wounded. It was the second attack of Misuari's group in Zamboanga City since 2001.  (Zamboanga Post)

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