Number of ASG killed in Sulu ops now at 8, 1 captured

MANILA –Ongoing focused military operations in Sulu have resulted in the death of eight Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists and captured of one during an encounter at Sitio Talok-Talok, Omar town, Capual Island, Sulu Tuesday morning.

Capt. Jason Roy Mararac, Joint Task Force Sulu civil-military operations officer, said the updated ASG fatality count was received late in the day.

All eight bodies were recovered, he added.

Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said a Marine Special Operation Group was conducting operations in the area around 8 a.m. when it encountered a force of 30 ASG bandits led by sub-leader Alhabsi Misaya, triggering a 20-minute firefight.

In the clash, five bandits were immediately killed and another captured.

Eight high-powered weapons, four M-16s and four M-14s, were also seized, Arevalo said.

No losses were reported from government forces, he added.

No other details are available as of this posting but Arevalo said AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año lauded the efforts of the government troops in this action as it shows military determination to eradicate the terror threat in Sulu and nearby provinces.