Troops recover 2 UXOs in Patikul, Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government forces have recovered two unexploded ordnance (UXO) while pursuing the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) brigands in the hinterlands of Sulu, a top military official disclosed Wednesday.Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said the UXOs were recovered around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday in Sitio Hagas-Hagas, Barangay Kabbon Takas, Patikul town.Arrojado said the two UXOs consisting of 105-milimeter howitzers were recovered by the troops of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion while advancing towards their objective.”Arrojado said the troops with trained explosive ordnance demolition (EOD) personnel rendered safe procedure and retrieved the UXOs to prevent its use as an improvised explosive devised by the enemy.”He said the troops are tracking the Abu Sayyaf brigands when they discovered the two UXOs.On Tuesday, five Abu Sayyaf brigands were killed in a clash with Marine Battalion Landing Team-8 (MBLT-8) forces in Barangay Liang, Patikul municipality. (PNA)