BY NONOY E. LACSON
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ZAMBOANGA CITY – Five members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed and several others, including two soldiers, were wounded when government troops clashed with the bandit group led by Radulan Sahiron and Hadjan Sawadjaan in three separate locations in Patikul, Sulu on Monday.
Philippine Army 11th Division Commander in Sulu Maj. Gen Corelito Vinluan said soldiers from the Army 1st Brigade figured in an encounter with the terrorists in Sitio Libug Wani, Barangay Bakung; Sitio Lumbaan, Barangay Buhanginan; and Sitio Bakud Uwak, Barangay Tanum in Patikul, Sulu, late Monday afternoon.
Vinluan identified the wounded soldiers as Army Staff Sergeant Ramonito Q. Diapolet and Corporal Maynard D. Cabote.
ASG gunmen who were killed and wounded during the encounter have remained unidentified, Vinluan said
According to Vinluan, the military recovered the bodies of the dead ASG men at the encounter sites. They saw several blood stains which bolstered suspicion that many ASG were wounded during the three encounters.
The first encounter took place at 3:55 p.m. and lasted for 30 minutes on Monday. Soldiers of 9th Scout Ranger Company (SRC) led by Lieutenant Chrismar M Lapinig clashed with about 40 ASG men led by Sahiron and Sawadjaan at Sitio Libug Wani, Barangay Bakung, Patikul, Sulu.
Fifteen minutes later at 4: 40pm., another encounter involving about 30 ASG terrorists broke out for another 30 minutes at Sitio Lumbaan, Barangay Buhanginan, Patikul.
It was followed by another firefight involving about 40 terrorists at 5:06 p.m. that lasted for an hour at Sitio Bakud Uwak, Barangay Tanum in Patikul. The soldiers were led by Lieutenant Nathaniel Gallon, commanding officer of the 8th Scout Ranger Company (SRC).
During the encounter, two MG helicopters provided aerial support to the troops, Vinluan reported.
Vinluan added that all operating troops in Patikul and in the adjacent towns were placed on full alert following the encounters. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
