Despite the loss of lives of dozens of soldiers in an earlier encounter against Abu Sayyaf terrorists, government troopers’ morale remained high, as it scored against the same group, killing six of them in renewed offensives in Sulu.
The Joint Task Force Sulu said that while troops of the 45th Infantry Battalion were on combat operations, they encountered a number of ASG terrorists in Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The ensuing 34-minute firefight forced the terrorists to escape to different directions.
The soldiers pursued the fleeing militants and later recovered three dead bodies and discovered several bloodstains in the scene of the firefight.
The ASG fatalities were identified as Guro Khalid, Udal Muhamadar Said and a certain Budah.
JTF Sulu Commander Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan said that based on reports, three more unidentified ASG rebels were killed and several others were wounded.
Vinluan added that the fighting has also resulted in the wounding of eight soldiers who were immediately extricated from the battle site and sent to the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital and later transferred to Camp Navarro General Hospital for medical attention.
“We are sustaining our focused military operations in Sulu to finish the Abu Sayyaf Group and bring about peace in the said province,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
“Please continue to pray for the safety of our soldiers while rendering unselfish service to win the peace as we also equip ourselves for our protection against COVID-19,” he added.
Last week, massive operations against the ASG unfortunately claimed the lives of 12 army soldiers during a bloody fighting in Patikul, Sulu. With Mark Navales
