Four continuing encounters between government forces and Abu Sayyaf bandits resulted in the death of nine ASG members in Patikul, Sulu on Thursday.
A military statement said among that slain was sub-leader Julie Ikit, identified as the cousin and second in command of Radullan Sahiron.
Troops from the 32nd Infantry engaged about 120 Abu Sayyaf members at past 10 a.m. Thursday, prompting a 45-minute firefight, the Joint Task Force Sulu said.
The terrorists retreated, leaving behind one casualty, who was later identified as Ikit.
The clashes extended until late afternoon, which resulted in the death of another ASG member.
JTF Sulu said information is gathered from reliable sources revealed that seven other terrorists died, while 19 others were seriously injured due to the encounters.
The casualties came after four ASG members and three soldiers were killed in an earlier encounter last week in the same area.
In Misamis Occidental, meanwhile, six soldiers were wounded in two separate clashes against the New People’s Army rebels in Misamis Occidental, the military reported Thursday.
Col. Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command information officer, said the first firefight occurred at around 5:20 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Nueva Vista, Don Victoriano Chiongbian, Misamis Occidental.
Besana said the Alpha Company of the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion was on focused military operation when they clashed against some 40 NPA rebels.
Besana said the NPA rebels fled to the southeast direction of the clash site following a few minutes of firefight.
The second encounter happened several minutes later when the Bravo Company troops of the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion pursued the fleeing NPA rebels in Barangay Napangan, also in Don Victoriano Chiongbian town.
Besana said the injured soldiers were taken to the hospital “while casualties on the enemy side are yet to be determined.” With PNA