Firefight, airstrike kill 3 Abu bandits in Basilan, says military

From InterAksyon (Jan 21): Firefight, airstrike kill 3 Abu bandits in Basilan, says military

Fresh firefights supported by airstrikes by government troops in Basilan against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have resulted in the death of at least three bandits and the wounding six others Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, public affairs chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said Wednesday.

“Initial result shows there were three bandits killed and six others wounded from the series of firefights and airstrikes including artillery barrages,” Cabunoc told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

However, no bodies were found at the encounter site as the bandits “will do everything to bring their dead or conceal them” as they withdraw.

“Our troops on the ground based their figure from what residents told them. (They) saw the dead bandits and the wounded,” Cabunoc said.

Earlier, a report from 1Lt. Sally Christine Ma. Magno, acting civil military operations officer of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, said troops from the 4th Special Forces Battalion encountered at around 11 a.m. up to 25 Abu bandits led by sub-leader Juhaibel Alamsirul alias Abu Kik in the vicinity of Sitio Penas, Barangay Pamantsaken, Sumisip.

She said a bandit was killed during the 15-minute fierce firefight and a certain Yusof Sandatan was “seriously wounded.” The bandits withdrew northward to Barangay Baiwas.

“We’ve no casualty,” Magno saod.

While doing clearing operations, the troops from the 64th Infantry Battalion were met by sniping spree from the bandits at around 12:55 p.m. in the Pamantsaken-Baiwas boundary.

This led to another close-quarter battle at around 1:40 p.m.

“This time the combined groups of sub-leader Radzmil Janatul alias Khubayb and Alamsirul numbering more than 50 engaged our troops for about two hours in Sitio Crossing Baiwas,” Magno said.

The soldiers were provided artillery fires and close-in air support from SF260s from the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

“The bandits were forced to withdraw toward the west direction. Initial reports received states that the ASG incurred one (fatality) with three others wounded. We’ve no casualty,” Magno said.

An arms cache was recovered from the encounter site.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/103490/firefight-airstrike-kill-3-abu-bandits-in-basilan-says-military