Philippine Marines have killed four Abu Sayyaf bandits, including a mid-level leader, while 10 others were wounded in fierce gun battle Saturday in the hinterlands of Sulu, a military official disclosed.
Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Col. Rodrigo Gregorio said the gun battle ensued around 6:40 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Tugas, Patikul, Sulu.
Gregorio said the troops from the Force Recon Class-18, while on operations, stumbled on a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits that resulted in the firefight.
Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo deployed four helicopter gunships to provide air support to the ground troops and relentlessly pursue the bandits, Gregorio said.
Two of the four slain Abu Sayyaf bandits were identified as Commander Apong Idol, a mid-level bandit leader, and Kausar Sawadjaan, according to Gregorio.
The wounded Abu Sayyaf followers were dragged away by their comrades in their escape, he said.
The operation was aimed to rescue Casilda Villarasa, who was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf bandits last May 8 in Barangay Asturia, Jolo, Sulu, he said.
Villarasa, 41, is a medical technologist at the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Jolo and is the wife of a Marine soldier.
She was with her nine-year-old daughter on the way to the IPHO when seized by the Abu Sayyaf bandits. Her daughter managed to run away.
Gregorio disclosed that seven Marine troops were killed while nine others were wounded in the ensuing firefight with the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
He withheld the identities of the soldiers who were killed and wounded in action pending notification to the relatives.
He said the Armed Forces through the Westmincom “will see to it that those soldiers who were involved in the encounter will be recognized accordingly and the family of those who have paid their ultimate sacrifice will be taken care of, while those who were wounded will be given the best medical assistance available.”(
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=527849
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