[PhilStar] At least three Abu Sayyaf militants and a trooper were killed, and 15 soldiers injured in a gun battle between rebels and Philippine troops yesterday morning in Patikul town, Sulu.The clash broke out when troops zeroed in on the location of the Abu Sayyaf after getting a tip from two kidnapped Filipino fishermen rescued on Friday.
Military spokesman Cirilito Sobejana said troops engaged heavily armed Abu Sayyaf gunmen under the command of Almujer Yaddah in a one-hour firefight at Sitio Darayan at the boundary of Barangays Danag and Buhanginan yesterday morning.
During the clearing operations, soldiers recovered the body of an unidentified Abu rebel. Sobejana said, "Our forces on the ground also spotted the bandits dragging away two bodies of their companions who appeared to be dead."
Sobejana said the two rescued kidnap victims pinpointed the locations of the Abu Sayyaf group that is keeping captive 21 other kidnap victims. He said, "The soldiers are careful in their movements since it is believed that the Abu Syayaf group is still carrying with them around six to seven kidnap victims."
Rocabo and Leones were on board a motorcycle when intercepted and recovered by government forces at Daang Puti, Patikul town. Sobejana said the victims revealed that they were kept under the custody of Abu Sayyaf members Ben Tatoo and Almujer Yadah, along with other kidnap victims.
Rocabo and Leones, crewmen of FB Ramona 2, were seized by the Abu Sayyaf along with captains Noel Besconde and Roy Borja Ramos last December 20 at the Celebes Sea. Besconde was beheaded on April 13 by the Abu Sayyaf group under Yadah at Barangay Tanum, Patikul.
Ramos, on the other hand, was rescued on June 8 in the vicinity of Barangay Lagtoh, Talipao town after he escaped from his captors in Patikul two days earlier.