Four alleged Abu Sayyaf killed in encounter vs military in Tawi-tawi

January 19, 2020

Four alleged Abu Sayyaf members were killed in an encounter with government troops in Tawi-Tawi on Sunday morning.

According to Brigadier General Camilo Balutan, commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi,  the Marine Batallion Landing Team 6 and 64th Marine Company encountered around 10 armed men while conducting focused military operation in Barangay Lakit-Lakit, Sapa-Sapa around 5am.

Balutan said the encounter resulted in the death of four alleged terrorists while one soldier was slightly injured.

"The neutralized enemies are notorious drug personalities positively identified by the LGU of Sapa-Sapa municipality," he said.

"The group is also known as conduits of Sulu-based ASG/KFRG conducting kidnapping operations in the tri-boundary of IndoMalPhi," Balutan added. 

Seized from the encounter site were one M1 Garand rifle, one bandolier with two long and five short magazines loaded with 5.56mm live ammunitions, two sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), assorted drug paraphernalia, and two cellular phones. 

Clearing operations and documentation were being conducted. Ella Dionisio/DMS