2 dead in latest clash in Sulu town

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - An Abu Sayyaf and a pro-government militia were killed while six volunteers and two marines were wounded in a fresh encounter against the militants Friday morning in the village of Talipao town, Sulu, according to a military official.

The fresh fighting erupted when patrolling volunteers of the Barangay Police Auxiliary Team (BPAT) encountered 30 Abu Sayyaf militants under the slain sub-leader Rakib Jal along the road at Tuyang about 8:55 a.m., according to Col. Jose Johriel Cenabre, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade and Joint Task Force Sulu.

Cenabre said the volunteers were conducting the road clearing operation along Bilaan-Tuyang Road in Talipao when they chanced upon the fleeing group of the Abu Sayyaf.

The volunteers were immediately reinforced by a platoon of marines from the Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 (MBLT).

Fighting sparked for 10 minutes that left one volunteer dead and six others wounded. Two reinforcing marines were also wounded.

Cenabre said an Abu Sayyaf was killed while undetermined others were wounded in the fighting that prompted the bandits to flee.

The slain militant, whose remains were recovered, was identified as Jul Asman Sangkula, an Abu Sayyaf member based in Basilan.

The military said the Abu Sayyaf faction it encountered was the same group they engaged last week.

The firefight have left eight Abu Sayyaf members killed  and eight others wounded  based on body counts as the operation continued in Talipao. From the government troops, two were killed – a marine and a volunteer  - while 12 volunteers and two marines ewre wounded in the Talipao operation so far.

A separate encounter on Tuesday also left a marine killed while five others were wounded following an ambush by the Abu Sayyaf on the convoy of civic volunteers on tree planting activity.

Cenabre said the fighting was a result of the ongoing joint military, police and local government campaign against the Abu Sayyaf group and lawless elements in the province. - Roel Pareño