'Abu Sayyaf' mortar fires disrupt medical mission in Sulu

Three mortar fires from suspected Abu Sayyaf Group bandits disrupted on Saturday activities of a joint medical mission in Patikul, Sulu, the military said.

An incident report from the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said that at about 11:30 a.m., three 60mm mortar shells pounded an area some 200 meters from the medical mission venues in Barangays Tanum Sandah, Patikul Higad, and Kadday Mampallam all in Patikul town.

Troops said the mortar rounds could have been fired some 500 meters from the east direction of the activity venues, and believed Abu Sayyaf bandits were responsible for the "terror" act.

The mortar fires were intended to intimidate the populace from participating in the said initiative.

“We strongly condemn this terroristic act resulting in the disruption of basic services delivery to the people,” Lieutenant Gen. Arnel Dela Vega said.

No one was reported hurt in the incident, and elements from the Joint Task Force Sulu are pursuing the perpetrators of the shelling. —LBG, GMA News