A firefight in Sulu that erupted between members of the Philippine Army and terrorist group Abu Sayyaf yesterday left one soldier dead and three others wounded.
The two groups clashed at around 11:30am in the village of Igasan in the town of Patikul, Philippine Star reported.
The wounded soldiers were brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in the village of Bus-bus in Jolo, Sulu, according to ABS-CBN News.
The soldiers’ names were withheld from the media because their family members have not yet been informed of their situation. However, the Manila Bulletin said they were members of the army’s 6th Special Forces Battalion.
Meanwhile, the military promised to provide assistance to the families of the dead and wounded soldiers.
The terrorists retreated to other areas when the clash ended after 20 minutes. The military launched airstrikes towards the places in which the bandits were suspected to have fled.
The Abu Sayaff were identified as the group responsible for the Jolo church bombing last month, which claimed 21 persons and injured more than 100 others. Five suspects in the case are now in the custody of the Philippine National Police, but the alleged mastermind identified as Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan is still at large.
The military is uncertain if the group they fought with yesterday included Sawadjaan.
Lt. Gen. Arnel de la Vega, commander of Western Mindanao Command, said the military will “relentlessly pursue” the Abu Sayyaf.
