At least 2 Abu Sayyaf militants and four soldiers were reported killed in fierce clashes that left over a dozen infantrymen wounded in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.
The fighting broke out Friday in Patikul town’s Kan Ague village, but it was only reported by the military late Saturday, saying troops clashed with dozens of pro-ISIS gunmen.
At least 17 soldiers were wounded in the fighting and brought to a military hospital in the capital town of Jolo.
Most of the casualties are members of the 6th Special Forces sent to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of terror attacks in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region.
Regional military commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana has confirmed the report late Saturday and said the operation against the Abu Sayyaf continues.
"Troops relentlessly hunt down and constrict the movement of terrorists with their purposive offensives. We buckle up our campaign to defeat bandits and seize their strongholds in Sulu,"
Sobejana said. "We, however, mourn the deaths of four more comrades-in-arms. They died, serving our country and paying the ultimate sacrifice for peace and progress."
The battle occurred just a week after eight dozen villagers displaced by the violence in Patikul returned to their homes. They were among 6,000 people who fled the town since 2017 because of the clashes between security and rebel forces, and atrocities perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf. (Zamboanga Post)
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