(UPDATE) 19 dead in Basilan clashes

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Three more people have been confirmed killed in clashes between the Philippine Army and the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sumisip, Basilan, increasing the number of fatalities from the bloody encounters to 19, a military official said Friday.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, Spokesman of the Armed Forces' western Mindanao (Westmincom), said 16 soldiers and eight rebels have also been confirmed wounded in the series of encounters.

Cabangbang said pursuit operations continued as of this posting, but the operation has been hindered by the bad weather condition due to the low pressure area in the northern part of Mindanao, which brought heavy rains in Basilan province and in western Mindanao area.

“Pursuit against the lawless elements is hampered by the bad weather but the operation will continue to flush them out,” Cabangbang said.

The military official explained that they incurred big casualties in the series of encounters that started Thursday morning at Barangay Cabengbeng.

He said during the first encounter, the troops clashed with about 50 members of the group of Wyms Wakil alias Bacoy, which left eight soldiers killed and six wounded.

Wakil’s group was responsible for the spate of attacks against the plantation workers and soldiers which have already left 16 killed and 34 wounded since January while exacting extortion money on the rubber plantations in Basilan.

Cabangbang said that at 3 p.m. Thursday, reinforcing Army ranger forces encountered the same group where the military suffered two fatalities with 10 more injured.

However, he said the rebels also suffered nine fatalities with eight injured bandits.

Among those killed were the sub-leader of the group identified as Ustadz Hassan Asnawi, his son Jumaidi; Nurham Asnawi, Juhair Aliman, Kaobut Mastul; Hudjata Marain; Meloy Patpi; a certain Balong and one unidentified follower.

Cabangbang said that among the wounded bandits were Wakil, Jarad Marain, and Jaz Umangkat.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Jesse Dellosa visited the wounded soldiers at the Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) and respect on the fallen 10 soldiers.

The two officials later flew to the battle ground in Basilan and assessed the military operation.