Troops clash with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu; war materials, documents seized

An encounter between government troops and Abu Sayyaf bandits in Indanan, Sulu, on Wednesday afternoon resulted in the recovery of war materials, including weapons, the military said Thursday.

Among those recovered by government security forces were two M14 rifles, three hammocks, two pairs of combat boots, two backpacks, and photocopies of passports allegedly owned by two Indonesians.

The gun battle with more or less 15 local terrorists believed to be under Mundi Sawadjaan and Radulan Sahiron lasted for 20 minutes, the military said.

Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the military's Western Mindanao Command, said no casualties were reported from the government side but noted that the Abu Sayyaf group sustained an undetermined number of casualties. Hot pursuit operation is ongoing to arrest the bandits.

Vinluan also said the documents containing high intelligence value would be subjected to a thorough probe, which can help in the military's campaign to eradicate activities of local and foreign terrorists.

Colonel Antonio Bautista, commander of the 1101st Infantry Brigade, said the military deployed additional troops to establish blockades in the possible routes of the local terrorists.

Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Sulu chief Major General William Gonzales hailed the troops for their unrelenting efforts to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf group.

"Our troops are currently pursuing these terrorists. We have the manpower, we have the war assets, and we have the people of Sulu rallying behind us," he said.

"They give tip-offs and they forbid ASG presence in their communities. The Tausugs are very confident and they are not afraid as they themselves are volunteering to confront terrorists," he added.

The military continues to hunt Sawadjaan, the alleged mastermind of bombing attacks in Sulu province, including the twin blasts in Jolo that claimed the lives of at least 15 people in August.

On September 22, government troops seized a suspected lair of Sawadjaan in Indanan where some personal belongings as well as food were recovered.

Sawadjaan's cousin, identified as Arsibar Sawadjaan, was killed during an encounter in Patikul early this month. He was also a sub-leader and bomb-maker of the Abu Sayyaf group, according to the military.

Meanwhile, Sawadjaan's alleged assistant, Hashim Saripada, was nabbed by authorities in Zamboanga City last month. —KBK, GMA News