The military reveal that four Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed following two separate encounters Sunday in Sumisip, Basilan.
Army Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom), said the first encounter resulted in the death of two still unidentified terrorists while the second firefight also resulted in the killing of two bandits and the seizure of an enemy encampment.
Petinglay said the first encounter happened in Barangay Bembengan, Sumisip, Basilan at about 2 p.m. while the second encounter took place near Barangay Cabcaban, Sumisip at about 9 p.m.
She said troops from the 4th Special Forces Battalion and 18th Infantry Battalion under Joint Task Force Basilan, were the ones who engaged about 15 to 20 ASG terrorists.
“Following the first encounter at 2 p.m., soldiers from the 4th SFB and 18th IB conduncted pursuit operations resulting to another encounter at 9 p.m.,” Petinglay said.
“Aside from the death of two ASG bandits, our troops also seized an enemy encampment near Barangay Cabcaban,” she said.
Petinglay said they have yet to determine the identity of the leader of the group which the troops encountered.
(FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD)