GOVERNMENT forces killed two Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu on Thursday. At least four soldiers were also wounded in the 30-minute firefight with the extremist group. Reports reaching the armed forces headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo said the Philippine Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col. Gregorio Nieveras engaged the bandits in a fierce firefight Thursday morning in Patikul, Sulu. The undetermined number of bandits later withdrew to their jungle lair as the Joint Task Force – Sulu group led by Col. Alan Arrojado implemented its pursuit operations. While fleeing, the bandits left seven high-powered firearms that were later recovered by the military. Authorities did not reveal the identities of the wounded soldiers pending the notification of their families.
