Wednesday, September 9, 2020

5 ASG bandits killed in Sibugay clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 9, 2020): 5 ASG bandits killed in Sibugay clash (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)



Five Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits were killed while two soldiers wounded in a fresh firefight between the advancing troops and fleeing bandits in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, military officials said Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, the Army's 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said
the clash broke out around 1:59 a.m. Wednesday in Sitio Limuno, Barangay President Roxas in R.T. Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Nicolas said the clash broke out when they intercepted the ASG bandits led by Furuji Indama in Sitio Limuno, Barangay President Roxas, R.T. Lim town.


Nicolas said the troops were backed by air support consisting of MG-520 helicopter gunships that pounded the bandits’ position, sending them scampering to different directions.

Two soldiers belonging to the 44th Infantry Battalion were wounded during the clash, according to Nicolas.

Nicolas underscored the importance of the information provided by residents in the area in locating the whereabouts of the ASG bandits.

“They (ASG bandits) are not residents of the place that is why they were easily identified by the residents,” he said, adding the troops recovered three high-powered firearms.

Indama's group was on the run after they figured in a clash Sunday in Barangay La Paz, Alicia, also in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

“This is the result of our pursuit operations against the armed elements of Abral Abdusalam and Sahibad Group led by Indama after our encounter in Barangay La Paz, Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay dawn of Sunday, September 6, 2020,” Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, 44th Infantry Battalion commander, said in a statement Wednesday.

One of Indama's followers was killed while two soldiers and three civilians were wounded in Sunday’s clash that ensued as government troops raided the hideout of the Sahibad crime group.

The Abral Abdusalam and Sahibad group are allies of the Basilan-based ASG bandits. They serve as spotters of potential kidnap victims.

Nicolas earlier said that Indama’s group was set to stage a new kidnapping in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, attributed the significant accomplishments of the troops “to all our partners and stakeholders who actively support in our campaigns against terrorism and radicalism in the region".

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114851

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