Five soldiers, 3 Abu Sayyaf killed in Sulu clash

February 3, 2019

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Eight people were killed, including three Abu Sayyaf bandits, while 33 were wounded in heavy firefight in Sulu, a military spokesman said Sunday.

Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the firefight occurred around 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Sitio Sungkog, Barangay Kabbon Takas, Patikul. 

Besana said the Army’s 5 th Scout Ranger Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Marlo Jomalesa, chanced upon a group of  some 150 Abu Sayyaf bandits under Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan while conducting focused military operation.

Besana said the firefight lasted for about one hour and 50 minutes where five soldiers died and three Abu Sayyaf bandits perished.

He disclosed that 18 of the 33 wounded were soldiers while the remaining 15 were Abu Sayyaf bandits. 

The names of the slain and wounded soldiers were not immediately available.

Besana said Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Idang Susukan was among the 15 bandits who were wounded during the clash based on “human intelligence” report. 

The clash took place after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the troops to destroy the Abu Sayyaf  after the twin blasts at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Barangay Walled City, Jolo where at least 22 died and 101 wounded.  DMS