Soldier wounded in Sulu clash dies -WestMinCom

One of the soldiers wounded in the clash between government troops and alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf group last week in Patikul, Sulu died on Monday, according to the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).

According to WestMinCom spokesman Major Arvin Encinas, the soldier died while confined at the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga, bringing the total number of fatalities on the government side from the clash to 12.

Encinas said the soldier sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body, including his lungs, liver and intestine, following a firefight that killed 11 other government soldiers.

The clash between soldiers of the 21st Infantry Battalion and around 40 Abu Sayyaf members erupted at 3:05 p.m. in Barangay Danag last Friday. It lasted for about an hour.

AFP chief General Felimon Santos Jr. condoled with the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers, noting that all assistance would be extended to their families.

The bodies of the fallen soldiers were airlifted to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City last Saturday night.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has condemned the killing. --KBK, GMA News