3 Soldiers Died in AFP - Abu Sayyaf Encounter

image source: news.abs-cbn.com

3 soldiers of the Philippine Army were killed in a fierce gun battle between the AFP and the Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf.

The encounter took place at the village of Kabuntakas in Patikul, Sulu, on Saturday, which lasted for almost two hours and leaving three soldiers dead and 17 others wounded.

The operating troops of the 35th Infantry Battalion, led by Lieutenant Colonel Vlademir Villanueva encountered around 150 armed members of the Abu Sayyaf Group during their combat operation in Sitio Bud Taming.

The terrorist group eventually withdrew and exited eastward. Reports says that the military claimed that there were traces of blood stains in some of the areas were the bandits hold their position during the battle, evidently shows that some of the Abu Sayyaf members were also wounded.

According to the joint task group of Sulu, the casualties were airlifted to the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City for medical attention.

Currently 20 people hostages are still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf Group, including German national Juergen Kantner, who has kidnapped in Tawi-Tawi last November.