Brother of Abu Sayaff sub-leader killed in Sulu clash

The brother of an Abu Syaaff Group (ASG) sub-leader and one other ASG member were killed in Patikul, Sulu after the ASG clashed several times with military forces, according to the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu.

The body of the older brother of ASG sub-leader and bomber Mundi Sawadjaan, Mujafal "Jhapz" Sawadjaa, and that of the ASG member identified as Muktihar Taha alias Mukti were recovered at 3:20 p.m.

This was after the ASG clashed with military forces at the boundaries of Barangays Taung, Taglibi, and Panglayahan.

JTF Sulu's 11th Infantry Division Commander Major General William Gonzales said the clashes started at 9:30 a.m after the 2nd Special Forces Battalion spotted a fleeing ASG member who left an improvised explosive device component.

"The pursuit of said individual led them to clash with the group of Mundi, who engaged them in a firefight,” Colonel Benjamin Batara, of the 1102nd Infantry Brigade, said.

“The operating forces of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade continued to pursue Mundi’s group as the latter desperately tried to evade government forces,” he added.

Gonzales said Sawadjaan may be evading military forces on his own.

“All our forces are on high alert as we continue to hunt for Mundi Sawdjaan. With the death of most of the members of his group, it is highly possible that Mundi is evading our forces by all by himself,” he said. — DVM, GMA News