GOVERNMENT troops implementing the all-out war ordered by President Duterte against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu suffered a setback on Monday after 15 soldiers were killed as they pursued the bandits who were attempting to escape from the tight cordon put up by security forces in the province.
Ten more soldiers were wounded in Talipao and Patikul towns in the sporadic clashes that broke out as soldiers scoured the traditional strongholds of the bandit group following Duterte’s order for the military to finish the ASG “to the last man.”
The troops’ casualties, one of them an Army junior officer, were incurred on the third day of the clashes with the bandits since the military initiated the massive operations in Sulu last week.
At least 25 bandits have been killed in the clashes.
Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya, Armed Forces chief of staff, ordered all military camps to raise the National Flag at half staff to honor the killed soldiers.
“As we gaze at the National Flag that flies at half-staff anew, soldiers knew that one too many hero among them has again offered his life—that others may live,” the military chief said.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces Public Affairs Office chief, said troops pursuing the bandits who withdrew after the first major encounter last week clashed with the bandits three times beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday in the areas of Patikul and Talipao.
During the last firefight, which occurred at past 4 p.m. at Sitio Kan Jalul, Barangay Maligay, Patikul, between troops from the 35th Infantry Battalion and 21st Infantry Battalion and about 120 bandits, 15 soldiers were killed, while 10 others were wounded.
The bandits were reportedly led by Radullan Sahiron, the top commander of the ASG in Sulu, whose group was the principal focus of the ongoing operations.
“Fifteen soldiers, including an officer, were killed in action, while 10 were wounded in action. The extent of casualty on the bandits’ side is undetermined,” Arevalo said.
Before the last encounter, soldiers clashed with at 30 bandits led by ASG subleader Jamiri Jawong Jauhari at Sitio Kugan, Barangay Bakung also in Patikul.
Arevalo said two bandits were killed during the firefight, while no casualty was reported on the government side.
At around 3:42 p.m., another encounter erupted between troops and at least 80 bandits in Kuttong, Talipao, wherein two more bandits were killed, while two soldiers were wounded.
Arevalo said that, while they were grieving for the 15 dead soldiers, the military is determined to end the Abu Sayyaf banditry as ordered by Duterte.
“The soldiers grieve for their fallen comrades. But instead of waning, the soldiers pressed on in the fight. That the ultimate sacrifice and acts of gallantry become their driving force to hit back once again on the bandits,” he said.