Patrolling troops clash with Abus in Basilan

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (April 11, 2017) -  A heavy armed confrontation ensued between patrolling troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sumisip, Basilan early morning yesterday, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the personnel of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, who established a detachment in Barangay Cabcaban, Sumisip, Basilan, encountered the said Abu Sayyaf bandits while they were conducting security patrol in the said area at 7:15am and then at around 7:45am, the engaging troops were reinforced by the 1st Special Forces Company, who was being fired at by the withdrawing bandits as the troops were traversing the said temporary patrol base in Barangay Cabcaban.

Pursuit on the evading enemy forces is currently being conducted by the Special Forces following bloodstains left by the fleeing bandits, she added.

Cpt. Petinglay said that as a result of the earlier engagements, five (5) members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) sustained wounds, while three (3) CAA members were killed in action. Six (6) other soldiers were also wounded during the second encounter.

Cpt. Petinglay said that eight (8) of the wounded were brought to Zamboanga City for further medical attention at the Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) of the Western Mindanao Command, while three (3) were admitted in a hospital in Basilan.

 “Our engaged troops have recently established a detachment in Barangay Cabcaban in response to the call of the local government of Basilan to secure the area from the threats posed by the Abu Sayyaf bandits. Our soldiers are on security patrols when the encounter occured,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander, WestMinCom.

 “The military will continue to secure the area and work with the local chief executives to contain the Abu Sayyaf bandits in the barangay,” said LtGen. Galvez.

"This incident will not stop us from doing our mandate, in order to free the community from the terror these bandits are causing the people," LtGen. Galvez added.