AT least 149 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group have been killed, captured and surrendered since January this year, including two more who were slain Wednesday in an encounter with government forces in Patikul, Sulu, Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said on Thursday.
“The latest skirmishes that resulted to the killing of two more terrorists happened at around 7 a.m. at the so-called Patikul hill in Barangay Sandah. Our troops from the 10th Infantry Battalion also seized three M16 rifles,” Petinglay said.
It added that the military killed 81 Abu Sayyaf men, 50 have surrendered, and 18 were arrested. The encounters also yielded 70 high-powered and low-powered firearms.
Petinglay said the Patikul hill encounter yielded two bodies “who are still yet to be identified.”
Joint Sulu Task Force commander Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana said no one from the operating troops was hurt or killed.
Before the encounter, Sobejana said Abu Sayyaf members Musa Jamil Alsid, 19, and Mohammad Waddang Udding, 20, surrendered Tuesday to the 2nd Special Forces Battalion. The two were residents of Barangay Pitogo, Caluang, Sulu.
He said members of the 3rd Civilian Active Auxiliary Sulu Company had a great role in the surrender.
“The Abu Sayyaf members are followers of the late ASG sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya. They also surrendered an M16 rifle. Alsid and Udding were already debriefed,” Sobejana said.
