Three Abu Sayyaf Group members were killed while three others were arrested in sustained offensives of the joint task forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command.
Nine high-powered firearms were seized during the operations.
Elements of the Philippine Marine Ready Fleet Sulu led by Col. Antonio Rosario Jr. encountered fully armed ASG bandits under the late sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya in Barangay Sukuban, Omar, Sulu at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
An exchange of gunfire ensued, resulting to the death of a bandit, whose body was retrieved by the engaged troops, and the seizure of eight high-powered firearms.
On Tuesday, joint operations of the military and the police resulted to the arrest of three more ASG members and the seizure of an explosive in Zamboanga City. (Francis T. Wakefield and Nonoy E. Lacson)