THREE suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed while eight soldiers were wounded in another encounter in Patikul, Sulu on Wednesday evening, April 22.
Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson Major Arvin Encinas said troops of the 45th Infantry Battalion encountered an undetermined number of ASG members in Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu at 6 p.m. of April 22 while conducting combat operations.
He said the clash lasted for at least 34 minutes.
"While pursuing the fleeing enemies, troops recovered three enemy cadavers and discovered bloodstains in the encounter site," said Encinas.
The slain individuals were identified as Guro Khalid, Udal Muhamadar Said and a certain alias Budah.
The military believed that more ASG members were wounded in the encounter as indicated by the bloodstains at the site.
The wounded soldiers were brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital and then transported to Camp Navarro General Hospital for treatment.
This encounter occurred almost a week after a clash in the village of Danag also in Patikul town killed 12 soldiers. Eleven died on the spot while the 12th soldier died while undergoing treatment. (VoxPop Philippines)