Troops, ASG clash anew; soldier slightly wounded

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 22): Troops, ASG clash anew; soldier slightly wounded

Government troops are tracking down a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits dragging along with them their casualties following a firefight in the hinterlands of Sulu.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, on Wednesday said the object of pursuit operations is the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Aldin Bagadi based in Indanan town, Sulu.

Galvez said the group of Bagadi figured in a firefight Tuesday in Barangay Paligi, Indanan town with the troops of the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion.

Galvez said the troops were conducting focused military operations when they clashed against 20 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Bagadi.

He said the group fled, dragging along with them their slain and injured companions following a 10-minute firefight.

He said a soldier was slightly injured and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

“Our troops are currently on the ground to pin down the Abu Sayyaf bandits who are on the run and are evading military forces,” Galvez said.

“It is obvious that the corridors of the bandits have already been constricted due to their inability to hide in populated areas after the locals themselves resisted their presence within the communities,” he added.

He said the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu continue to intensify the conduct of focused military operations to contain the ASG and to possibly rescue the hostages in Sulu.

The ASG is still holding captive 27 people, including 21 foreigners, who were separately seized.

The hostages included a Dutch; a German; a Korean; seven Indonesians; five Malaysians; six Vietnamese; and, six Filipinos.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=966119