ZAMBOANGA CITY – Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu has reportedly got hold of seven wounded comrades in Basilan that included senior leader Furuji Indama then later on sent all of them to an undisclosed place in Sulu province for shrapnel wounds treatment.
Former Ungkaya Pukan Mayor Joel Maturan said yesterday Indama and six of his followers were wounded during an air strike conducted by the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) based in this city, Friday.
The air strike hit the group of ASG sub leader Ubaib and his 37 fully armed followers who were holding camp at Sitio Bohe Buug in the village of Baguindian, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, killing 10 of them including a 50-caliber machine gunner, according to a military report.
Maturan said that aside from Indama, those said to be treated for shrapnel wounds were Abu Haysam, Abu Maid, Abu Hattam, Abu Gaber, Abu Muadz and Abu Abugan.
Indama was seen fighting with government troops in the village of Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo town, one of the sites being targeted by the military in their “focused military operations” in the province since July 3.
Maturan said that he also received information that those wounded ASG who belongs to the Yakan ethnic tribe were brought to Tuburan, Basilan and Lamitan City for treatment.
Maturan and his group is an ally of government forces in Basilan fighting against the ASG in the towns of Ungkaya Pukan, Tipo-Tipo and Al-Barka. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
