ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government
troops reinforced Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters in clashes with
about 50 Abu Sayyaf bandits that resulted in the death of a militant in Sumisip
town in Basilan Saturday.
An MILF rebel was wounded in the
encounter, the military said.
Reports said the MILF men
encountered a combined group of followers of Abu Sayyaf leaders Radzmil
Janatul, alias Khubayb; Juhaibel Alamsirul, alias Abu Kik, and Pasil Bayali at
about 10 a.m. in Barangay Pamatsaken.
Col. Roland Joselito Bautista,
chief of the Army’s 104th Infantry Battalion, said soldiers backed by an
armored vehicle, along with members of the MILF and Barangay Sumisip Central
chairman Marjim Barillo responded, prompting the bandits to retreat toward Barangay
Baiwas.
He said the soldiers helped in
taking the wounded MILF member, identified as Sahid Liberal alias Balinting, to
the Basilan Community Hospital in Isabela City for treatment.
Meanwhile, Bautista said
government troops backed by MILF forces launched a manhunt for the fleeing
bandits.
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