Hunt for 3 remaining ASG in Bohol still ongoing –Arevalo

The hunt is still on for the remaining three Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits who made the ill-advised landing in Inabanga town, Bohol last April 10. (Photo: Eugene Alvin Villar / Wikipedia)

MANILA–The hunt is still on for the remaining three Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits who made the ill-advised landing in Inabanga town, Bohol last April 10.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs chief, said the neutralization of the three is only a matter of time as they are now running out of ammunition, supplies aside from being wounded.

Last April 22, four ASG bandits, including Joselito Milloria (also known as Abu Alih), a former resident of Inabanga, were killed after a series of gun battle with government forces in Barangay Bacani, Clarin town.

“The hunt continues for the remaining two or three terrorists who were part of the (ASG) bandits that attempted to establish foothold in Bohol but failed. We have reports indicating that they were also wounded and running out of supplies,” Arevalo added.

The slain bandits are part of the estimated 11-man band of ASG sub-leader Muamar Askali alias “Abu Rami” who made an incursion in Inabanga town, Bohol last April 10, reportedly to abduct some tourists for their kidnap-for-ransom scheme.

However, this attempt fizzled out as they were neutralized by responding government forces who pounced on them in their enclave at Sitio Ilaya, Barangay Napo, Inabanga town, resulting in the death of Askali and three other ASG members last April 11.

Also killed were three soldiers, a police officer and an elderly couple.