7 soldiers killed, 13 others wounded in Sulu clashes with Abu Sayyaf

(Updated 4:25 p.m.) Seven soldiers, including an officer, were killed while 13 others were wounded following two clashes with suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu Thursday morning, the spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

In a statement, Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the first encounter occurred 6:20 a.m. in Barangay Kagay in Patikul town. 

An officer died in the clash.

Ten minutes later, Zagala said six more soldiers were killed while 13 others were wounded after they were hit by an 81mm mortar launched by the bandit group in Brgy. Kabuntakas.

 

He said the remaining troops are still in the area of operations while the casualties were evacuated to the nearest hospital for medical attention.

As of posting time, the military has yet to release the identities of the casualties.

 

Zagala said three critically-wounded personnel from Brgy. Kabbon-Takas were transferred to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City via a military chopper for proper medical treatment.

 

“We (have) yet to inform the families of our members who were killed and wounded during the encounters in Sulu. Rest assured that they are being well taken care of,” he said.

 

Zagala said the Patikul clashes would not hamper military operations against the Abu Sayyaf. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News