5 soldiers wounded in Sayyaf clashes in Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Five soldiers were wounded in continuing clashes Friday with Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippines, security officials said.

Officials said troops clashed with Abu Sayyaf leaders Hairulah Asbang and Amlon Abtahi in the village of Buhanginan in Sulu’s Patikul town where security forces were battling the rebel group since early this week.

Marine Captain Maria Rowena Muyuela, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the soldiers were pursuing the rebels in the hinterlands and that more troops have been deployed to prevent the Abu Sayyaf band from escaping the military operation.

“The (military) operation is going on and more troops were deployed to serve as blocking force at the vicinity of the engagement area to contain the withdrawing Abu Sayyaf members,” she told The Manila Times.

She said the Abu Sayyaf may have suffered casualties in the military assault.

Just this Thursday, troops killed an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Murasil in Patikul town following a military assault on his hideout in the hinterlands. Murasil was under notorious leader Hatib Hajan, tagged by the military as involved in the spate of kidnappings in southern Philippines.

Earlier in the week, soldiers also seized an Abu Sayyaf camp in the village of Langhub in Patikul town following fierce clashes that left one soldier dead and four others injured. Soldiers also recovered various items from grenade casings to solar panels and backpacks left behind by fleeing rebels. The camp has dozens of structures which can accommodate over 100 people.

Authorities have largely blamed the Abu Sayyaf to the spate of attacks and kidnappings for ransom in the southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner)

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