Foreign terrorist, 2 Abu Sayyaf gunmen killed in Sulu –military

An alleged foreign terrorist and two Abu Sayyaf Group gunmen were killed in Sulu during a Friday evening clash with the Philippine military, the Western Mindanao Command said in a statement.

Wesmincom commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. identified the foreigner as "Yusop" - one of the five remaining foreign terrorists monitored in Sulu.

“He is the stepson of Abduramil, an Egyptian national who was neutralized by the military in Indanan, Sulu last November 2019, and son of Reda Mohammad Mahmud, a.k.a. Sitti Aiza, an Egyptian national who perpetrated a suicide bombing attack at the KM3 Detachment still in Indanan on September 2019,” said Vinluan.

Meanwhile, the two slain ASG gunmen were identified as Abu Khattab Jundullah, a.k.a. Saddam, brother of the late Daulah Islamiyah/Abu Sayyaf Group member Midi Alih who was killed in Sulare Island; and a.k.a. Akram, one of the trusted followers of Mundi.

Saddam was also known as one of the trained bomb-makers in Sulu and Basilan along with Mundi Sawadjaan

According to the military, the 4th Light Reaction Company was operating in Barangay Igasan in the town of Patikul at around 10:45 p.m. when they encountered an undetermined number of ASG gunmen.

A ten-minute firefight erupted after which the gunmen fled from the scene.

“Reinforcements were immediately deployed to conduct blocking and pursuit operations in the possible enemy withdrawal routes,” said Col. Benjamin Batara, Commander of the 1102nd Infantry Brigade.

The bodies of the slain ASG men were recovered from the encounter site,  and they were brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista for proper disposition.

Also recovered were an M653 carbine, an M203 grenade launcher, and an R4 rifle; nine steel magazines - eight long and one short; 85 rounds of M16 ammunition; an M203 grenade round; two bandoliers; and personal belongings.

From January 2021 to date, the Philippine military has neutralized 70 ASG members; seven were apprehended, 60 surrendered, and three were killed. — DVM, GMA News