ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Government troops on Thursday morning killed a suspected Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leader in an encounter in Patikul, Sulu.
Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command, said members o the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS) encountered a big group of Abu Sayyaf militants in Sitio Kan Udang, Barangay Taglibi at around 9:10 a.m.
“The firefight raged for 45 minutes and there were undetermined number of casualties inflicted on the Abu Sayyaf Group,” Muyuela said.
JTGS commander Col. Alan Arrojado said the soldiers encountered the group of Hatib Hajan Sawajaan.
Sawajaan's group is suspected of having involvement in the kidnapping of Malaysia businessmen and a German couple last year.
Arrojado said among the killed militants was a certain Murasil, a sub-leader under Sawajaan.
He said troops are conducting mopping up operations in the area.