Military claims killing 40 Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu, Basilan

The week-long offensive by government security forces in Sulu and Basilan against the Abu Sayyaf has resulted in the killing of 40 terrorists and the wounding of 25 others, a regional military spokesman said Monday.

"Focused military operations are intensified, in coordination with the police and the local governments of the provinces of Basilan and Sulu, to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf Group," Major Filemon Tan of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command said.

Tan said the casualties increased on Sunday in the Basilan fighting to 18 dead and nine wounded, while 22 were dead and 16 wounded in Sulu, based on reports gathered.

Among the identified terrorists killed in the operations in Barangays Baguindan and Silangkum in Basilan last July 7 were Julkifli Sariul and Kussien Pallam Seong.

Those wounded in the operations were Boy Indama, Abdul Karim, Hakim Jalul, Bong Assam, Albert Tuason and Gapul Melling. Others personalities are still for validation.

The military said the terrorists who fought in the Basilan towns of Unkayan Pukan and Albarka that broke out last Wednesday were under the group of ASG leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Furuji Indama.

Meanwhile in Sulu, the military identified the casualties on the side of the terrorist group as Sabtola Mahalli, Mallah Sangkula, and Bas Sariyul based on intelligence reports.

Sangkula ang Mahalli were followers of ASG sub-leader Basaron Arok who was killed by troops of the 35th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Maligay in Patikul, Sulu on Wednesday.

Mahalli also has an outstanding warrant of arrest for the kidnapping of ABS-CBN news anchor Ces Drilon in June 2008 and Filipino-Chinese businessman Nelso Lim of Mega Fishing in April 2011.

Sariyul, meanwhile, was killed on July 7 after an encounter with the 45th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Buhanginan in Patikul.

One soldier was killed and six others were wounded in the Sulu firefight.

Armed Forces chief General Ricardo Visaya vowed a non-stop operations against the Abu Sayyaf when he assumed command last July 1 in accordance with the thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte to end the terrorist group.

Visaya said retiring Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano committed to end the terrorists before he leaves the service on December 8.

About a dozen Filipino and foreign hostages are kept in Sulu by the Abu Sayyaf, including the seven Indonesian tugboat crew members abducted off Sulu Sea in June.

The military is also validating if the terror group was also responsible for the kidnapping of three more Indonesian tugboat crew members on Saturday.  — Joseph Tristan Roxas/RSJ, GMA News