TWO alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed yesterday in an early morning encounter in Indanan town in Sulu.
The incident took place around 6:45 a.m.
According to the report, troopers from the 11th Scout Ranger Company were sent to the area after residents reported to the authorities the presence of armed men.
Two of the eight bandits were killed in the ensuing gunfight.
Seized from the site of the encounter were an M16 assault rifle with an attached M203 grenade launcher and an improvised bomb.
Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, spokesperson of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the latest killing of the ASG member brings to 38 the total of number of ASG members killed in the intensified military operations since July.
Soldiers also suffered 15 killed in action and 28 wounded in action in the same period.
Authorities believe that the ASG has splintered into small groups to evade soldiers and are planting IEDs to delay movements of government troops.
Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the successful pursuit is a “result of the cooperation of the community against the ASG.”
He also condemned the use of IED by the ASG saying “IEDs maim and kill individuals regardless whether they are soldiers or civilians and the main losers are the innocent people in the community. The use of IED is not only against the law but it is outright evil and un-Islamic.”
“The focused military operation will continue until we deal a crippling blow against the ASG and rescue the remaining hostages,” dela Vega said.
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