ZAMBOANGA CITY – Marine and naval forces raided an Abu Sayyaf and pirate lair, killed a suspected militant Sunday night off Tawi-Tawi province, according to the military here.
The elements of the Naval Task Force 62 and Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 (MBLT) staged the operation on a tip of civilians that the Abu Sayyaf group are holding camp at Batu Pantan, Lagayas.
Maj. Eugene Batara, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the raiding forces staged the operation at night, to stunt the armed group. “The troops took advantage of the cover of darkness but were fired upon by the lawless elements upon detection,” Batara said.
No one was reported wounded from the raiding government forces as fighting ensued with the attack rocking the lair of bullets and rifle grenades where the militants and pirates holed out.
Batara said the armed suspects retreated but failed to retrieve one of their fallen comrades. The escaping suspects were suspected to have suffered undetermined casualties as evidence of bloodstains were traced on the withdrawal site.
The military said the pirates have been monitored plying the waters off Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and are suspected to be aiding the Abu Sayyaf terrorists who are being hunted by the military forces in Sulu.
Batara said part of the operation of the group was terrorizing the civilian populace to prevent them from cooperating with the authorities.