By Martin Sadongdong Two alleged members of the terror Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed by government troops in a joint law enforcement operation in Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi over the weekend. Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the military's Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), identified the slain suspects as Jul Haber with aliases "Black Shabu" and "Toks," and Kamsel Ampang. Sobejana said combined elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6, Tandubas Municipal Police Station, and Provincial Mobile Force Company were conducting security operations when they encountered an undetermined number of bandits in Barangay Taruk early Sunday morning. A 10-minute firefight ensued which forced the enemies to break into smaller groups and flee. While the troops were scouring the encounter site, they found the bodies of the slain bandits, Sobejana said. Colonel Arturo Rojas, commander of Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, said the two slain suspects were part of a local kidnap-for-ransom group which eventually teamed up with the Abu Sayyaf Group. Aside from kidnapping activities, Haber also engaged in illegal drusg trade in Tandubas town, according to Rojas. Sobejana said the bodies of the slain suspects were turned over to the municipal police station for proper disposition. Haber's wife and son were also presented by the troops to the village chair. The troops recovered from the encounter site an M16 rifle with scope, 123 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, six short alloy magazines of M16 rifle, three long magazines of M16 rifle, a rifle grenade, a suspender, five plastic sachets made of straw, a plastic sachet with suspected crystal meth or shabu, and other drug paraphernalia.