MANILA, Philippines – At least six (6) Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants including two sub-commanders were killed while 11 others were reported wounded including five soldiers in two days of clashes between military troops and extremist groups in the province of Sulu, officials said Tuesday (26 November 2019).

Major Arvin John Encinas, spokesman for the AFP – Western Mindanao Command (AFP-Westmincom), said it was at around 2:40 pm on Saturday when the first strike started in Sitio Itum, Brgy. Kabbuntakas, Patikul of the province.

The clash followed at the outskirts of the Sitio Huton in Sitio Mahablo, Brgy. Silangkan, Indanan at 3:30 pm later in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, five soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army have been declared wounded and are being treated at Camp Bautista Station Hospital.

The 2nd Special Forces Battalion (SFB) said those killed on the ASG side were two sub-commanders in Sibih Pisih, who was a member of Abu Sayyaf Commander Radullan Sahiron’s group, and Commander Roger Sajih; and fighters who was only identified as Saipal Reny, Melvin Reny, Taihal Sabtal and one “Jailade.”

The two commanders were reportedly active in kidnapping for ransom on the border of Tawi-Tawi and Sabah, Malaysia.

Sibih has an outstanding warrant of arrest for the massacre of 22 civilians in Talipa, Sulu in 2014.

Cal.45 pistols, various magazines, ammunition, and cellular phones were recovered in the encounter site. (Gelica Paulo/IAMIGO/CNS)