By Bonita Ermac
Western Mindanao Command Operating troops composed of intelligence operatives from the Philippine Marines Ready Force Sulu, Marine Base Landing Team-1 and Military Intelligence Division-2 led by Captain Cadatal together with the 52nd Special Action Company, 5th Special Action Battalion led by Police Senior Inspector Simon, Jr. conducted Joint Law Enforcement Operation in the wee hours, at Kalimayahan Village, Latih, Patikul, Sulu, Wednesday.
The operation led to the extermination of Abu Sayyaf Group Sub-Group Leader Absulajim Abdulgani a.k.a Suraka Ingog and recovery of one caliber 45 pistol with magazine, 10 rounds of caliber 45 ammunition, 3 rounds 7.62 ammunition, and Php2, 421.00 cash.
Abdulgani was a bomb expert and listed number 5 in the Periodic Status Report under late Muamar Askali Group.
After the conduct of medico legal at the Provincial Hospital, the body of the slain ASG SGL was brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for proper disposition.
Meanwhile, on August 13 monday at around 4:30pm last Monday, troops of the 41st Infantry Battalion under 1st Lieutenant Capat, while conducting focused military operations, encountered undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf Group members in Barangay Tigian, Buhanginan, Sulu.
Abus immediately scampered to different directions when the firefighting started and immediately fled the area of encounter.
The encounter resulted to the wounding of two (2) soldiers while casualties on the enemy side were still undetermined.
Troops of the 45th and 32nd Infantry Battalions were then deployed to establish blockade while the two wounded soldiers were promptly evacuated to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital for immediate medical attention.
On August 14, the two wounded soldiers were airlifted to a hospital in Zamboanga City for further medication.
Progress report submitted by the Joint Task Force Sulu said the encounter also resulted to 1 enemy killed and six (6) wounded as per human intelligence.
Slain ASG member was identified as Ulla Laduan while two of the 6 wounded were identified as Ben Ulamah and Jehad Usman, residents of Barangay Danag, Patikul, Sulu.
The Joint Task Force Sulu is continuously implementing its all-out campaign in eradicating the Abu Sayyaf Group in the province.