2 terrorists killed in Basilan clash

From the Manila Times (Jun 9, 2023): 2 terrorists killed in Basilan clash (By Al Jacinto)

ZAMBOANGA CITY: The Philippine Army reported on Wednesday the killing of two pro-Islamic State (IS) fighters in a clash in the southern Muslim province of Basilan, south of here.

It said the two terrorists were followers of Dawlah Islamiya sub-leader Mudzrimar Sawadjaan and Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Pasil Bayali. They were killed by soldiers in the hinterlands of Sumisip town late on Tuesday, June 6, in continuing operations that started three days earlier.

Col. Frederick Sales, the acting commander of the Joint Task Force-Basilan, identified the two slain terrorists only by their aliases Dodong and Boy. He said their remains were handed over to the local police.

There were no reports on Sawadjaan or Bayali, although troops earlier recovered Ahmad Ibrahim Rullie, the 15-year-old son of Indonesian suicide bombers in the area.

Rullie's parents — Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh — were tagged in the January 2019 bombing at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel in downtown Jolo in Sulu province.

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, vowed to crush the terrorist groups and said the operations against the terrorist groups continue in the province, a major stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf and other armed groups.

"Your armed forces will not stop its military operations until the terror groups are completely crushed. We have highly motivated and committed forces currently deployed to eliminate the threats and secure the communities in Basilan," he said.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/06/08/regions/2-terrorists-killed-in-basilan-clash/1894999