Troops capture ASG camp after clash in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov. 1 (PNA) -- The government forces captured a camp that served as harboring site of the Abu Sayyaf brigands following a firefight in the province of Sulu, a military official disclosed Saturday.

Joint Task Force ZamBaSulTa commander Rear Adm. Reynaldo Yoma said the firefight broke out around 7:20 a.m. Saturday when the troops chanced upon a group of Abu Sayyaf brigands in Barangay Bungkaong, Patikul, Sulu.

Yoma said no one was either killed or wounded among the troops from the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion during the firefight that lasted for about five minutes.

Yoma added the Abu Sayyaf brigands fled to the hinterlands as they were forced to abandon their camp cum harboring site.

He said the harboring site has a makeshift hut. The troops recovered during the clearing operation a combat boots, a poncho, a hammock and one lower BDA uniform.

The clash broke out as the government forces are continuously pursuing the Abu Sayyaf brigands who are believed to be still holding captives more than 10 hostages.

The capture of the camp Saturday was the fourth encampment of the Abu Sayyaf brigands that fell into the hands of the government forces since the pursuit operation was launched last month.

The troops have captured three camps of the Abu Sayyaf brigands last month in the municipality of Patikul, Sulu.

One of the three camps, which has 47 bunkers, was captured by the troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul while the other two by the 35th IB in Barangay Kabuntakas in the same town.

One of the captured camps in Barangay Kabuntakas can accommodate 100 people while the other serves as a security outpost with 10-person capacity. (PNA)
CTB/TPGJR/RSM