ZAMBOANGA CITY (UPDATED) — Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines killed four suspected members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group in today’s dawn raid in the sub-village of Limuno, Barangay in the municipality of President Rojas R. T Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay.
But the AFP in a statement said, one more ASG member was killed while the government troops pursued the operations.
Western Mindanao Command Chief Major General Corleto Vinluang in an interview with Newsline.ph said the soldiers were conducting security operations when the encounter took place.
Reports have it, that the military was tipped off by concerned residents that ASG members belonging to the group of Abu Sayyaf leaders Furuji Indama and Sahiban were sighted in the area prompting them to verify the information, which resulted to the killing of the four terrorists.
Two soldiers belonging to the 44th Infantry Battalion were wounded but are now in stable condition, said Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, 102nd Infantry Brigade Commander.
In a statement, he said that the group are planning to conduct kidnapping activities in the region based on the reports received from their reliable source.
Westmincom Spokesperson Lt.Col Alaric said, “As of now there are still intermittent fights in the area”.
This morning’s raid is the second encounter between the AFP and the ASG since Sunday, September 6, a terrorist was killed during the encounter.
During the Sunday raid, “We attribute our significant accomplishments to all our partners and stakeholders who actively support in our campaigns against terrorism and radicalism in the region,” Vinluan said.
On August 30, President Rodrigo Duterte visited Jolo, Sulu after the twin bombings which killed government forces.
In his meeting with the soldiers, Duterte ordered the soldiers to crush Islamist militants operating in the volatile region.-Editha Z. Caduaya and Mirasol Montesa/Newsline.ph
