6 Abu Sayyaf bandits dead, 8 soldiers hurt in Patikul clash —military

Six suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed, while eight government troops were wounded during an encounter in Patikul, Sulu on Wednesday.

According to Western Mindanao Command spokesman Major Arvin Encinas on Thursday, troops from the 45th Infantry Battalion were conducting combat operations when they had an encounter with an undetermined number of bandits in Barangay Latih.

The military said the firefight lasted for 34 minutes.

Bodies of three local terrorists, identified as Guro Khalid, Udal Muhamadar Said, and one "Budah," were recovered. The WestMinCom said the information that three more ASG members were killed were based on intelligence report.

Meanwhile, the eight injured troops were brought to Camp Navarro General Hospital for medical treatment.

"We are sustaining our focused military operations in Sulu to finish the Abu Sayyaf Group and bring about peace in the said province," Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the WestMinCom, said.

This encounter came nearly a week after 12 soldiers were killed and 13 others were wounded in a clash with more or less 40 ASG members in Barangay Danag, which is also in Patikul. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News