GOVERNMENT troops continue to scour the provinces of Sulu and Basilan as it pursue local terrorists who clashed with elite soldiers in the two provinces on Wednesday wherein at least 20 members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed, and which also resulted in the escape of two kidnap victims who are Coast Guard personnel.
Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, has ordered all military forces in Sulu to track down Abu Sayyaf members in the province and strike them “in their lairs,” even as Army Scout Rangers pursue the more than 200 terrorists who clashed with them on Wednesday afternoon at Barangay Buanza, Indanan.
“Operating troops are still in the area, continuing to replenish supplies and ammunition for the pursuit operations,” Arrojado said.
In Basilan, members of the Joint Task Group Basilan were also running after Abu Sayyaf members who clashed on Wednesday morning with soldiers that resulted in the death of five terrorists and an enlisted personnel.
The military had been hard pressed against the order of Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin to finish off the ASG problem in the two provinces, which was characterized by the continued abduction of people for ransom payment.
On Friday Arrojado identified 10 of the 15 ASG members who killed during the firefight with elements of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion at Sitio Marang, Barangay, Buanza, wherein four soldiers were also wounded. They were identified as Joy Juliyon, Arapat Bagadi, Majindi, Sarman Aidarud, Mandi, Arapat Hadjiri, Dunni Ammin, Salman Wahid, Majindi Kamlun and Runni Said.
Seven other terrorists also wounded. They were identified as Abdel de la Cruz, Sherwin de la Cruz, Mawalil, Duni, Bidah, Lasis Jihili and Kapatud Sarman.
Arrojado also identied the four wounded soldiers as Pfc. Elvin Bacalargio, Johnrie Melegrito and Johnzen Tagumpay and Cpl. Earl Bompat.
The Scout Rangers under Lt. Col. Eugene Boquio initially encountered at least 80 ASG members, led by Commanders Yasser Igasan and Alhabsy Misaya at Sitio Marang, but as the firefight rages, the number of terrorists grew to more than 200 following reinforcements from the Asg.