ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least 3 dozen soldiers and rebels were killed and wounded in fierce clashes Saturday in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, officials said.
Officials said at least 9 militants and four soldiers were confirmed dead as fighting erupted the hinterlands of Talipao town where security forces are pursuing Abu Sayyaf leaders Radullan Sahiron, Hatib Sawadjaan and Julie Ekit.
Marine Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, a spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, said the battle began shortly before 2 p.m. and continued well into the night.
She said helicopter gunships were also dispatched in the area to provide close air support to ground troops.
“Military troops conducting law enforcement operations in Talipao, Sulu encountered undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members under Radullan Sahiron, Hatib Sawadjaan and Julie Ekit, resulting to the killing of nine Abu Sayyafs and wounding of several others,” Muyuela told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
“The intensified operations launched by the operating troops under Joint Task Group-Sulu had canalized the group of Sahiron, Sawadjaan and Ekit which resulted to massive number of Abu Sayyaf’s casualties,” she added.
Police forces also put up blockades in villages to prevent militants from blending with civilians and eventually escaped. (Mindanao Examiner – Ely Dumaboc)
Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read Our News on: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com and http://www.mindanaoexaminer.net
20