Abu Sayyaf men kill another soldier in Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Abu Sayyaf group’s new assassins struck anew, killing another soldier in Jolo, Sulu, the military said.

The latest victim of Abu Sofian, an assassins group formed by the Abu Sayyaf, was Private First Class Rasad, who belong to the 35th Infantry Battalion (IB).

Capt. Jose Ritche Pabilonia, Southern Command information chief, said Rasad was on his way home when attacked in Barangay Alat at around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. He died from multiple gunshot wounds in the back.

According to Pabilonia, the suspects shot Rasad from behind and pumped him with bullets. Two suspects escaped aboard a black Honda Dream motorcycle. Rasad was listed as the 9th military trooper to fall in the hands of the Abu Sofian.

The Abu Sayyaf group has reportedly lost the support of the villagers in the hinterlands and in far flung areas of Sulu due to the continued military’s humanitarian missions supported by the American forces under the US Joint Special Operation Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P).

Two civilians who were suspected as military spies were also gunned down by the same group. The Jolo Internal Defense Force (JIDF) has intensified the checkpoint around Jolo to plug the escape routes of the assassins.

Residents in Jolo disclosed that many of the businessmen and even ordinary civilians are becoming apprehensive of the situation.