The massive military campaign against 200 members of Abu Sayyaf Group that began Friday has so far yielded one ASG dead even as ground troops said nine to 10 terrorists might have been killed in an aerial and ground bombardment in Patikul, Sulu.
Brig. Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the account on 10 ASG members killed during air and ground strikes in Barangay Kabbun Takas, Patikul was based on civilians’ report.
Pabayo, however, said the troops had not found any dead bodies of bandits yet as security forces scoured the battle site.
Pabayo could not confirm if ASG leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan was one of those killed during the bombardment.
“We could not pinpoint yet; there were many accounts indicating that there are nine or 10 that might have been killed, but there was no confirmation yet,” Pabayo said.
The ASG bandits led by Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron were spotted converging in Barangay Kabbun Takas
So far, troops from the 11th Infantry Division reported to have pinned down an ASG bandit in a separate clash with the terrorists in Brgy Upper Binauang, Talipao, Sulu last Saturday.
Army soldiers were still on clearing operations at the battle site and found Rakib Dahsul dead.
The slain was among the ASG splinter group under Sub-group leader Jaber Susukan who was chanced upon by troops of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion. As the bandits tried to evade soldiers, a 20-minute clash ensued, the military said.
“The engaged troops are part of the blocking force of the JTF Sulu as its main force scour the hinterlands of Patikul, the main battle area to hunt down the ASG,” the 11th IB said.
After a lull in the fighting, soldiers recovered two M16 rifles left by the escaping terrorists.
Pabayo said the AFP in Sulu was still hunting down the ASG.