Four bandits killed, two others wounded in separate clashes in Sulu

By Ronron
February 12, 2007

Four bandits were killed while two others were captured in separate clashes against the military on Monday as pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) continues in Sulu.

The first incident happened at around 5:30 am in Barangay Andanan, Luuk town when elements of the Special Operations Platoon of the Marines Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) III and 52nd Marines Force Reconnaissance Company were conducting scouring operations.

“This is part of our pursuit operations against our high-value targets… They (government troops) were fired upon by unidentified armed men while proceeding to their target,” said Marines spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan.

Caculitan could not immediately say if the suspects were members of the ASG since the military also received reports that there was an ongoing clan war or “redo” in said area at that time.

The 30-minute firefight resulted in the death of two bandits and the capture of two others, one of whom was wounded. An M14 rifle was also recovered from them.

No one was hurt on the government side.

At 11:40 am, another encounter ensued in Bud Dajo in Talipao town, involving some 40 suspected ASG members and Scout Ranger elements.

Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, commander of the First Scout Rangers Regiment (FSRR), said the ASG group was believed to be led by sub-commander Albader Parad.

Mapagu said the exchange of fires lasted for one hour and a half, resulting in the death of two suspected rebels whose bodies were recovered by the military.

No one was hurt among the Army rangers.

The AFP has stepped further its operations against the Al Qaeda-linked ASG after it has scored against the group with the deaths of their top two leaders, Khadaffy Janjalani and Jainal Antel Sali, Jr., alias Abu Solaiman.

The AFP’s Oplan Ultimatum against the ASG was launched in August 2006./DMS