Alleged Abu Sayyaf member killed in Basilan

March 19, 2019

An alleged member of Abu Sayyaf was killed in a clash with government troops in Basilan on Tuesday morning.

Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command, said the troops of 18th Infantry Battalion encountered 10 Abu Sayyaf members under Furuji Indama in the vicinity of Barangay Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan around 8:15 am.

Besana said, according to Colonel Fernando Reyeg, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, the engaged troops retrieved an enemy’s cadaver and an M16 rifle from the encounter site.

He said at around 8:30 am of the same day soldiers from 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion heavily-engaged seven Abu Sayyaf militants under Indama in Barangay Bohe Pahu.

“The armed confrontation ensued for five minutes with no casualty reported on the government side,” said Besana.

Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command chief, said troops launched their combat operations to neutralize Abu Sayyaf militants in the province.

“We commit to sustain our campaign against terrorism that derails peace and development in the area of operations. Hitherto, we work hard to crumble terrorists and to address security threats by intensifying our offensives and by involving stakeholders and the people of Mindanao,” Dela Vega said. Robina Asido/DMS