MANILA– Government soldiers engaged the Abu Sayyaf rebels in an intense firefight at Patikul, Sulu on Saturday, days after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the wipeout of the members of terrorist group by “all means”.
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-Westmincom) spokesperson Colonel Gerry Besana said that the incident erupted shortly before noon in Barangay Kabbon Takas.
According to Besana, soldiers from the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion and over a hundred Abu Sayyaf members under Hajan Sawadjaan were involved in the clash.
Sawadjaan is an Abu Sayyaf leader believed to be involved in the bombings at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo, Sulu on Jan. 27 that killed 22 persons and hurt at least 100 others.
As of press time, Besana said there were no recorded casualties from the government side and still “undetermined” whether there were any in the enemy side.
The encounter happened amid the investigation about the involvement of Indonesian suicide bombers aided by the Abu Sayyaf group in twin blasts, which happened while the entire Mindanao was under martial law.
Duterte, in a speech in Jolo, Sulu on Monday, has ordered the military to conduct an “all-out war” against the Islamic State-inspired rebels.
“I’m ordering you now: Pulpugin ninyo ang Abu Sayyaf by whatever means,” the President said. “Meron man tayong helicopter, may eroplano, may mga barko. Eh iyong mga bala natin diyan sa mga kanyon ninyo…paputukin na ninyo.”
“Our duty is to protect the Filipino people; and second is that we have to preserve the nation,” he added./PN
