8 die in AFP-Abu Sayyaf clash after bandits attack Bohol coastal villages

Five members of extremist Abu Sayyaf Group were killed while a police officer and two soldiers were also killed in a clash between the bandits and government forces in Bohol, the military said.Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said clearing operations continue since the firefight erupted at 5 a.m. in the coastal village of Napo, Bohol.He said involved in the operations are Philippine Navy, Air Force bombers and ground troops that also included police officers.Padilla lauded the residents for alerting the police and 47th Infantry Battalion.In a statement, Lt. General Oscar Lactao, commander of Central Mindanao command based in Cebu City, said government forces recovered the four ASG dead bodies at the shoreline, including four M-16 Armalite rifles with M203 grenade launcher and an M-4 rifle.Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, head of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said about 10 heavily armed men on board fastcraft sea outrigger arrived in the coastal villages of Inabanga town located 71 kilometers from Tagbilaran Cityon Mondaynight.Mayor Josephine Jumamoy said in a radio interview that the gunmen entered the interior portion of the Barangay Napo through the Napo river.Jumanoy said she sent a police team to check on reports by civilians about the presence of armed men. As the police arrived, they were fired at by the gunmen at 5:20 a.m.Exchange of gunfire still continues as of 4 p.m.About 200 families from Napo and Ylaya villages have fled to safer grounds.Lactao and Taliño issued a joint statement this afternoon about the incident. On behalf of the combined forces of the AFP and the PNP in the Visayas Region, we want to congratulate our people in Bohol under the able leadership of Governor Edgar Chatto, and all local chief executives down to the municipal and barangay levels, who made a brave stand to defend themselves against the threat of terrorism. The government security forces simply reinforced the vigilance of the Boholanos who organized themselves into a strong force to keep the province safe from any threat group, said the joint PNP-AFP statement. Both officials also commended the heroism of the fallen soldiers and policeman. Their heroism will forever be engraved in the hearts of our people. Today’s incident showcases how strong we can be if all stakeholders, the law enforcers, the civilian government and the community, act together, they said.