Rangers, Sayyafs clash in Sulu

SULU – Security forces clashed with Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the troubled Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, officials said Wednesday.

Fighting erupted between troops and militants in the village of Liu Bud Pantao in Talipao town where officials reported a still undetermined number of enemy casualties since Tuesday clashes.

Members of the 1^st Scout Ranger Battalion were tracking down the militants under Hajan Sawadjaan, a notorious and ruthless leader of the Abu Sayyaf group who swore allegiance to the Islamic State.

Officials said troops recovered bandoleers, jungle packs, tent, magazines for M16 automatic rifles, cell phone, a 40mm grenade, provisions and P14,000 in cash left by the militants. There was no report of military casualties.

“While we continue with our peace campaigns, we are also intensifying our military operations to neutralize the obstinate members of the different threat groups in our area of operation who remain to be the menace of society. Pursuit operations are being conducted as of press time,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding 5 Indonesian crew members of a trawler kidnapped off Sabah in Malaysia, and a Filipino doctor who was seized from his clinic in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu. (Zamboanga Post)

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