ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Seven combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were wounded in an encounter with around 50 Abu Sayyaf bandits in Indanan, Sulu on Friday.
The firefight occurred at around 9 a.m. in Sitio Bunga, Barangay Buanza, according to Capt. Rex Payot, public affairs chief of the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) and the Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID).
The military said the bandit group suffered casualties.
The bandits, who are reportedly followers of Abu Sayyaf leaders Taun Annoh and Apoh Mike, were tagged in the kidnapping of five Indonesian fishermen in the waters off Sabah in Malaysia in January, according to Col. Ignatius Patrimonio, chief of the Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade.
The MNLF men were responding to reports about the presence of armed men in the area when the bandits opened fire at them.
The wounded were taken to the Military Station Hospital at Camp Gen. Teodulfo Bautista in Barangay Bus-bus, Jolo.
One of them was airlifted to this city for further treatment.
Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of JTFS and 11th ID commended the MNLF for helping the military maintain peace in Sulu.