ZAMBOANGA CITY – While the country is devastated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and divided by the eventual passage of the new anti-terrorism law soldiers are dying in Patikul town in Sulu Province, a known lair of Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
News report gathered from military sources said the fatalities included four members of the Army Special Forces, two members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) while 17 other government troopers were wounded. Their names are not yet available to the media.
The soldiers of the 6th Special Forces Battalion of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) were in combat operation when they encountered about 40 members of ASG in the jungle of Sitio Lagaron, Barangay Kan-Ague, Patikul.
Westmincom spokesperson Major Arvin John Encinas said the enemy belonged to an Abu Sayyaf faction under Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan. Sawadjaan is known to be the local leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) following his allegiance to the international terrorist group a few years back. The group of Sawadjaan was responsible for a spate of bombings in Sulu in 2018.
Encinas said the remains of the fallen troopers were recovered from the encounter site and the wounded were brought to the Military Station Hospital in Kampo General Teodulfo Bautista. Later, about seven wounded troopers were airlifted to a hospital in Zamboanga City and are now in stable condition.
Meanwhile Westmincom chief Lt. General Cirilito Sobejana directed the government forces in Sulu to continue their relentless armed campaign aimed at crushing the terror group and bring peace back to the island. He also said the fallen troops will be given full military honors for their great service to the country. Their families will also receive the needed financial assistance and other forms of support.
