ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Abu Sayyaf fighter was killed and nine police commandos were wounded in a firefight in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, reports said Saturday.
The fighting was the first between security forces and the pro-ISIS group following the military’s declaration that the province is now free from the Abu Sayyaf.
Police forces were sent to the remote town of Panamao to serve an arrest warrant on a wanted Abu Sayyaf member Muksidal Jumadil at his hideout in the village of Seir Hagad after villagers tipped off authorities about his presence.
Jumadil opened automatic fire on the commandos sparking a fierce battle that eventually killed the gunman. The wounded commandos, all members of the 7th Special Action Battalion, were rushed to hospital. Among the wounded were a captain and two of his lieutenants.
Police said Jumadil was wanted for a string of murders in the Sulu. No other details about his criminal past were made available by the authorities. Many of the Abu Sayyaf leaders in Sulu had been killed in military and police operations and their members surrendered the past years to avail of the government’s amnesty program.
Meanwhile in Basilan province, two pro-government militias ambushed a policeman PSSg Jun Jabbal Arasal and his two companions Rene Tanasain and Arastud Asisoy on Friday in the village of Parangbasak in Lamitan City.
The ambushers Lipunan Docol and Lim Amaran escaped after attacking the trio who was travelling in a car. Police said it is investigating the motive of the attack or whether this was a family feud or a clan war. (Mindanao Examiner)
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