Jolo bombing ‘facilitator’, another Abu bandit killed in Patikul clash

Two suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group, including one of the alleged facilitators of the bombing of the Jolo cathedral in January, were killed in a clash on Monday afternoon in Patikul, Sulu.

The Army identified those killed as Barak Ingog and Nasser Sawadjaan.

Ingog is allegedly a facilitator of the Jolo Cathedral bombing on January 27. Sawdjaan is allegedly a nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajaan Sawadjaan.

The clash started at 3:45 p.m. when soldiers led by Lieutenant Colonel Alaric Delos Santos encountered 40 suspected Abu Sayyaf members led by Almijer Yada in Barangay Bangkal.

It lasted for 40 minutes.

“Three of our troops were also slightly hurt due to shrapnel wounds but they are now fine," Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, Jr. said.

“We also received information from residents in the area, who are also monitoring and reporting the whereabouts of the bandits in order to rid their presence in the community, that they overheard that another high value ASG sub leader is missing and probably dead,” he added. —NB, GMA News