ASG attacks gov’t troops in South; 1 dead, 12 hurt

From Tempo (Feb 3): ASG attacks gov’t troops in South; 1 dead, 12 hurt

 Abu Sayyaf militants ambushed Friday a truckload of soldiers bound for Jolo, in Patikul, Sulu, wounding five soldiers.

The attack took place hours after a bomb explosion in Basilan killed a bystander and injured four others, and an attack on a group of militiamen that left three civilians wounded.

Ensign Chester Ian Ramos, Joint Task Force Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (ZamBaSulTa) information officer reported that three soldiers were wounded during a 30-minute firefight last Friday with ASG militants at Sitio Panding in Bunkaong, Patikul town, Sulu.

He said that aside from the three wounded soldiers, two others were injured when they fell from their vehicle.

Ramos said the encounter started at about 1:30 p.m. when a convoy of the 35th Infantry Battalion bound for Jolo was ambushed by ASG bandits.

The soldiers, according to Ramos, were approaching Sitio Panding when the ASG gunmen sprayed them with bullets.

On the same day, at about 8:30 a.m., alleged ASG militants exploded an improvised explosive device (IED) in the village of Limbocandis, Sumisip, Basilan, killing one Mannah Jallma, 25, and wounding four others, one whom was identified as 16-year-old Spia Abduhu.

Senior Inspector Achmad Alibonga, Sumisip police chief, said the victims were pasturing their cow when Jallama stepped on an improvised bomb fashioned out as a landmine.

Alibonga said Jallama died on the spot while Abduhu was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

After an hour, the ASG also ambushed a group of militiamen, conducting security patrol near a government project site in Limbocandis.

During the brief exchange of gunfire, three civilians were hit by stray bullets.
The militiamen recovered an improvised bomb after the clash.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2015/02/03/asg-attacks-govt-troops-in-south-1-dead-12-hurt/