ZAMBOANGA CITY - A Marine was killed in a clash with at least 30 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group believed to be holding captive the Sulu provincial government's treasurer.
Brig. Gen. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of the 2nd marine Brigade and head of Joint Task Force Sulu, said elements f the 26th Marine Company under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 were scouring Barangay Maligay in Patikul, Sulu, for kidnapped provincial treasurer Jess Cabelin when they encountered the armed bandit group.
Cenabre said a soldier died and an undetermined number of bandits were wounded in the one-hour clash.
He said the group was led by Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Asman Sawadjaan and Hatib Sawadjaan. He added that it could have been acting as the "blocking force" of the actual group that is holding Cabelin.
“The Abu Sayyaf militants that the soldiers encountered could be acting as the blocking group of the abductors,†Cenabre said.
Cabelin was snatched from his sleeping quarter near the Sulu provincial capitol in Barangay Bauno Bangkal, Patikul town last Monday night.
Pursuit operations were ongoing against the bandit group.