Government forces have continued to attack Daesh-linked Abu Sayyaf militants in a mountainous area in Sulu, the military reported Friday afternoon.
"Result of indirect fire weapons (105mm howitzers) and reports are coming from civilians," Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command, said in a text message.
Earlier, the military reported 14 Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in air strikes in the vicinity of Mt. Sinumaan in Patikul, Sulu, four days after the beheading of a Canadian hostage, John Ridsel.
The report said government forces rained artillery fire on the Abu Sayyaf gunmen as planes and helicopters flew low over the jungle terrain dropping bombs on the militants believed to be holding 20 foreign hostages.
"But these figures are for further validation and confirmation," Tan said. "What is important here is that operations are continuing and gaining headway."
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday vowed to “neutralize” the bandits, who have declared allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group, a day after the severed head of Ridsdel was dumped near Jolo’s City Hall.
Military spokesperson Col. Noel Detoyato told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Queszon City that as a result of the bombardments, troops were able to occupy the former places occupied by the Abu Sayyaf.
According to him, the offensive, which began last Saturday and targeted at veteran one-armed Abu Sayyaf commander Radullan Sahiron, was proving a success.
Security officials on Wednesday said the hostages, including a Canadian, a Norwegian and a Filipino woman abducted with Ridsdel from yachts at a beach resort on Samal Island, Davao del Sur province, seven months ago, were being held by Sahiron on Jolo.
The militants are also holding 18 Indonesian and Malaysian sailors kidnapped from waters south of the Philippines over the past month, as well as a Dutch bird watcher abducted in 2012.
Since 1991, the group -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines.
It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.
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