6 soldiers die in Basilan clash with Abu Sayyaf

November 9, 2017

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Six soldiers were killed while four others were wounded as fresh fighting erupted against members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and lawless elements in the province of Basilan, the military said Thursday.

"We are sad to report the death of six of your soldiers during the encounter yesterday (Wednesday) in Basilan,” Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said.

Fighting broke out around 12:41 p.m. Wednesday when troops of the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion launched a strike operation against the ASG in Barangay Upper Cabengbeng, Sumisip municipality.

The target were the groups of ASG leaders Siar Alhamsirol and Parong Tedi.  They were reinforced by lawless elements that fought the 18th Infantry Battalion troops near the Basilan Circumferential Road in Sumisip.

“As they edged towards the circumferential road, operating troops were met with heavy fire by lawless elements believed to be relatives and sympathizers of the Abu Sayyaf bandits,” Col. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said.

Uy said the firefight lasted for about four hours with an undetermined number of casualties on the enemy side.

He said air support was provided by the Air Force troops at 2:11 p.m. Wednesday.

The remains of the slain soldiers were transported to this city. Two of the remains were claimed by the relatives.

The wounded were taken to the headquarters of the 64th Infantry Battalion and subsequently to Camp Navarro General Hospital and a private medical facility in this city. DMS