14 wounded as troops clash with ASG bandits, JI militants in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -– Fourteen people, including four Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members, were wounded in an hour-long firefight Friday in the hinterlands of Sulu.Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said the firefight broke out around 6:29 a.m. Friday in Mount Awak, Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu.Arrojado said the firefight broke out when the marine forces encountered about 300 ASG members while conducting focus military operation.Arrojado said the ground troops have sighted four Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants, who were together with the ASG members during the clash.He said the wounded soldiers belong to the 32nd Marine Company of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 (MBLT-2).Arrojado said the Fire Base Santol pounded the positions of the enemy forces with 81-mm mortar shells while another platoon reinforced the engaged troops forcing the JIs and brigands to scamper to different directions.He said the wounded troops were taken to the Trauma Hospital in Camp General Teodulfo Bautista and later to Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.He said that two of the wounded ASG brigands were identified as a certain Sueb and a certain Anas based on the reports from the ground troops.He said the ASG brigands that figured in the firefight against the troops are led by Hatib Hajan Sawajaan, Muamar Askali, Almuktar Suddung, Namiel Ahajari, Basaron Arok and Yasser Igasan.He said the troops are still conducting clearing operation at the clash site.