At least 10 killed, 30 wounded in Basilan clash

From ABS-CBN (Dec 16): At least 10 killed, 30 wounded in Basilan clash

BASILAN - At least 10 were killed while more than 30 were wounded when government troops encountered members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Macalang, Albarka, Basilan past 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to Major Cris Mugot, spokesperson of joint task force ZAMBASULTA (Zamboanga, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi), three soldiers from the Philippine Army, including a military officer, were killed in an exchange of gunfire with the ASG.

About 10 others were injured in the gunfight.

Mugot said the operation started Sunday, targeting high-value targets, including ASG leader Isnilon Hapilon and Malaysian bomb expert Moho Najib Bin Husen, who was allegedly training the local bandits in bomb-making.

Husen was also behind the operation of a bomb factory discovered by the military in a remote village in Mohammad Ajul, Basilan in May this year.

The gunfight between the government operatives and the ASG lasted for almost an hour.

The military was able to overrun the bandit's temporary encampment. The camp had more than 20 foxholes.

Mugot said that at least seven members of the ASG were killed during the gunfight, and more than 20 were injured.

However, the military failed to recover the remains of the casualties.

Mugot said the remains of the three soldiers were brought to Zamboanga City, while the wounded soldiers were transferred to Camp Navarro General Hospital for medical treatment.

Albarka town has been one of the strongholds of the ASG in Basilan for the past decades, according to Mugot.

Government troops find the town well-secured and hard to penetrate due to the support the ASG is getting from the local communities.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/12/15/15/at-least-10-killed-30-wounded-in-basilan-clash