One soldier wounded in battle with Abu Sayyaf in Sulu  Tuesday

February 22, 2017

One soldier was wounded in an encounter with the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu on Tuesday morning, a military spokesperson said Wednesday.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay of the Western Mindanao Command, said the Joint Task Force Sulu were conducting a military operation when they encountered 20 Abu Sayyaf  members under Aldin Bagadi of the ASG Indanan Base at the vicinity of Brgy Paligi, Indanan around 8:44am.

Petinglay said the 10-minute fire fight resulted in the injury of one soldier while the ASG fled carrying undetermined number of  slain and wounded members.

“One of the soldiers was slightly wounded and was immediately evacuated to the nearest medical facility,” she said.

Petinglay said soldiers pursued the gunmen.

“Our troops are currently on the ground to pin down the Abu Sayyaf who are on the run and are evading military forces,” Major General Carlito Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command said.

“As of press time, the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of focused military operations to contain the ASG and to possibly rescue the hostages in Sulu,” said Petinglay. Robina Asido/DMS