[Anadolu] The Philippine military sats it has inflicted an undetermined number of casualties on the Abu Sayyaf as battles erupted again on the island province of Sulu. These were the first confrontations between the military and the Abu Sayyaf in its southern Sulu lair since clashes on August 29 left 15 troops and more than 30 Abu Sayyaf dead. As of last week, around 7,000 troops have been deployed to Sulu to fight the rebels.Military spokesman Filemon Tan Jr. said soldiers engaged in a gun battle with Abu Sayyaf militants in Patikul town. He said, "While intensifying military offensives in Sulu, troops engaged in an armed confrontation with the group of sub-leader Jamiri Jaong Jawhari.
On Monday, the military said a group led by Radullan Sahiron, a one-armed top leader of the Abu Sayyaf, had been confined to an area of Sulu in an intensified offensive. The U.S. has placed a bounty of $1 million on Sahiron's head for his involvement in the murder of foreign nationals.
Tan said that specific battalions involved in the offensive are targeting each subgroup, including that of Sahiron and another leader, Alhabsi Misaya.
On Tuesday, during a trip to Laos to attend the ASEAN summits, Duterte is reported to have told members of Vientiane's Filipino community that he needed only a little more time to make the Abu Sayyaf pay for their crimes. He said, "If I have to face them, you know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body. Just give me vinegar and salt, and I will eat you.
"Go ahead. Set off bombs... How many did they kill, 15? Well, give me time. When the time comes, I will pulverize you. You watch me. You’ve seen how I operate… Just give me a little time."