2 Abus killed, 3 others wounded in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two Abu Sayyaf terrorists were killed and three others wounded in a shootout with government troops in Sulu on Saturday.

An Army Scout Ranger was also wounded during the three-hour fighting in the jungles of Indanan town.

The wounded soldier was taken to the newly established military trauma hospital inside the 104th Army Brigade headquarters in Jolo before

He was flown to Zamboanga City for further treatment.

Brig. Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, Joint Special Operation Group (JSOG)commander, said the Scout Rangers, backed up by the Light Reaction Company, attacked the terrorists’ jungle lair at about 1:30 p.m. in search of Abu Sayyaf commanders Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula and Albader Parad.

"The fighting lasted until 4 p.m. Saturday before the enemies escaped, dividing their group into factions, a usual terrorist tactic to divide the troops’ attention," he said.

The Scout Rangers caught up with the Abu Sayyaf band in Barangay Marang, triggering heavy fighting, he added.

Pabustan said the encounter occurred near a camp of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in Barangay Marang.

Military and MNLF ground commanders coordinated with one another in the operation, he added.

The military and the MNLF know of the Abu Sayyaf’s tactic of going into MNLF areas to drag them into the fighting, Pabustan said.

The military has poured more troops in Sulu to flush out the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf, who are giving shelter to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist leaders Dulmatin and Umar Patek.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has given his troops until March 14 to finish off the Abu Sayyaf.