AFP: IEDs, ‘Shahadah’ flags recovered from Abu Sayyaf in Basilan

The Armed Forces of the Philippines recovered two Shahadah flags and improvised explosive devices in Basilan after an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits on Thursday.

The Shahada is a testament to the faith of Muslims. Its use in flags has been popular among Sunni Islamist militant groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda although the Shahada is not exclusively used by militants.

 

In a statement released on Thursday, the AFP Western Mindanao Command said combined elements of the 19th Special Forces Company and Civilian Volunteer Organization encountered the bandits in Barangay Tuburan in Hadji Mohammad Ajul town.

 

The firefight lasted for 45 minutes, it added. It however did not say if there were casualties on either side.

 

The recovered items have been turned over to the Joint Task Force Zambasulta (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi).

 

Also on Thursday, two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in an encounter with combined elements of the 4th Special Forces Battalion and Civilian Volunteer Organization. — Amanda Fernandez/JDS, GMA News