PAGADIAN CITY (Sept. 12, 2018) - In the continuing conduct of military
operations to rescue the remaining kidnap victims in Sulu, soldiers under the
21st Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Pagala, encountered more or
less sixty Abu Sayyaf Group members under Almujer Yadah and Idang Susukan in
Barangay Bungkaong, Patikul, Sulu Monday at 9:00 morning, military official
said.
WesMinCom
spokesperson LTC Gerry M. Besaana disclosed that due to the superior firepower
of the government forces, the bandits were forced to withdraw and escape.
LTC Besana
said that one enemy was killed, based on dead body recovered during the
clearing operation, the KIA ASG identified as a.k.a Muin while no casualty was
recorded on the government side.
The
operating troops also recovered in the encounter site was one M16 rifle. The
firearm is temporarily under the custody of the Joint Task Force Sulu prior
turnover to higher headquarters, LTC Besana added.
“This
latest encounter only shows how persistent our forces are to track down the
terrorist groups wherever they go to make sure that they are decimated and that
remaining kidnap victims are also rescued. We also have to give due recognition
to the support of the local community in directing our troops to the
terrorists’ location proving that they are already tired of the menace they
bring to their locality,” said WesMinCom Commander LtGen Arnel dela Vega after
receiving the report from Joint Task Force Sulu.
Besana also
said that from January, 2018 to date, a total of 38 ASG members were killed during
encounters. 32 were slain in Sulu and 6 in Basilan. (By JONG CADION)
No comments:
Post a Comment