Sawadjaan brother killed, two soldiers wounded in Patikul clash

The brother of Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan was killed in a clash between members of the 41st Infantry Batallion and an estimated 40 ASG bandits in Patikul, Sulu on Tuesday.

The military identified the bandit killed as Nanz Sawadjaan, younger brother of the alleged mastermind of the bombing in Indanan on Sunday.

The firefight also resulted in the wounding of two soldiers who were brought to the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo.

The clash happened after the soldiers encountered the bandits led by Almujer Yadah, Ben Tattoh, and Apo Mike in Sitio Tubig Pansol, Barangay Langhub in Patikul at 11:39 a.m. on Tuesday.

Heavy firefight lasted for 20 minutes. The bandits, the military said, ran to different directions allowing the troops to overrun the ASG camp that could accommodate at least 40 individuals.

“Our troops remain persistent in tracking down and neutralizing the remaining terrorists in Sulu,” Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said.

“The successful operations of our troops are also attributed to the local community who feeds information, directing our troops to the terrorists’ location,” he added. —NB, GMA News