Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Soldiers clash with ASG in Basilan

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 15, 2019): Soldiers clash with ASG in Basilan

Government troops encountered around 15 armed members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Maluso, Basilan province before dawn Tuesday.



Philippine Army (MANILA BULLETIN)

Elements of the Philippine Army’s 68th Infantry (Kaagapay) Battalion (68IB) were conducting security operations at the vicinity of Brgy. Calang Canas around 1:50 a.m. when they chanced upon the armed group.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said no casualty was recorded on the side of the government troops while there were an undetermined number on the enemy’s side as evidenced by trickles of blood at the encounter site.

“Actually, chance encounter lang ‘yun. The troops were conducting security patrol in the area after nating makareceive ng information from concerned citizens na this group will conduct IED [improvised explosive device] attacks,” Encinas said.

He bared that the group they encountered are under the command of Basilan-based commander Furuji Indama who has plans to bomb military camps and urbanized areas within the month.

The firefight lasted for 20 minutes.

“After noon, wala na, hindi na nasundan,” he said.

He said the patrol operations were being done regularly at any time of the day as preventive measures against possible terror attacks in the area.

Clearing operations resulted to the recovery of at least six IEDs at the encounter site.

Pursuit operations were on-going to locate the group which immediately fled after the gun battle after being overpowered by the military, Encinas said.

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