Officials said policemen, backed by army soldiers, clashed with the group of Baser Sakilan, a notorious bandit leader tagged as behind numerous extortion activities in the province.
Army Lieutenant Colonel Yegor Rey Barroquillo, Jr., commander of the 44th Infantry Battalion, said the fighting in the village of Santa Clara lasted about 30 minutes. The gunmen, numbering about 15, split into smaller group and escaped along with their casualties.
“The villagers tipped off the military and police about the presence of Sakilan’s group in the area which prompted authorities to deploy forces in the town,” he said, adding there was no report of military casualties.
Barroquillo, citing intelligence reports, said the group may be planning to kidnap locals in the town.
He said security forces recovered assorted weapons, including an M203 rifle with grenade launcher and munitions.
Major General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said he ordered troops to track down the gunmen in the province and at the same time praised the public support to the military and police for helping authorities by providing information about lawless groups in Zamboanga Sibugay.
“The support of the populace to law enforcers in the spirit of Bayanihan is now overwhelming and I admire their vigilance to fight criminality and lawlessness. The timely information provided by the people encourages our law enforcers to double their efforts to attain lasting peace and security in this region,” Cruz said.
Bayanihan refers to the government’s anti-insurgency campaign in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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