(Eagle News) — One soldier was killed and three others were injured after government troops clashed with suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu on Thursday, Feb. 14.
Lt. General Arnel dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, did not identify the casualties in the clash between members of the Army’s 6th Special Forces Battalion and the bandits in Barangay Bigasan at 11:30 a.m., but said the injured have already been brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in Bus-bus, Jolo.
He said the firefight lasted 20 minutes.
As of 5 p.m., the bandits are being pursued by the government troops.
The military has intensified operations against local terrorists after the Jolo, Sulu blasts that killed at least 23 people in January.
The military has said an Indonesian couple, assisted by local terrorists was behind the bombings.