BASILAN PROVINCE (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 6, 2013) – Four people were killed in fierce clashes Monday between government troops and Abu Sayyaf rebels in Basilan province in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, an army spokesman said.
Captain Jefferson Somera, of the 1st Infantry Division, said two wounded rebels under Juhair Aliman were also captured near the village of Mebak in Sumisip town. He said the fighting erupted after the military launched an operation aimed at clearing the circumferential road from lawless elements.
“The purpose of the (military) operation is to clear the Basilan circumferential road to ensure the safety of the civilian motorists. The operation also intends to neutralize the lawless elements threatening the major thoroughfare along the villages of Sapah Bulak and Upper Cabengbeng both of Sumisip town,” Somera said.
He said the wounded rebels were evacuated to hospital.
Authorities have blamed the Abu Sayyaf for the spate of kidnappings and terrorism in Basilan and other provinces in the autonomous region. (Mindanao Examiner)
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