Toddler shot, soldier slain in troops’ clash with Abu Sayyaf

MEMBERS of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) attacked a barangay in Sulu, wounding a 3-year-old boy, while a soldier was killed in a clash with the bandits in Basilan on Wednesday, the military said.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the military’s Joint Task Group Sulu, said an undetermined number of ASG terrorists under subleader Ninok Sapari attacked a civilian community at Barangay Sandah, Patikul, at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Arrojado said armed civilian security employees, led by village chief Jairulla Jawari, engaged the attacking ASG bandits in a 15-minute firefight, forcing the terrorists to withdraw.

The attack resulted in the wounding of Gasfer Suhudan, who sustained wounds on his forehead. Responding soldiers pursued the bandits.

In Basilan, a member of the Joint Task Group Basilan engaged ASG bandits after being flagged down also on Wednesday at Barangay Limbo Cadis, Sumisip.

Reports said the Army man, whose name was not made available, was with two civilians aboard two motorcycles when ASG bandits flagged them down and immediately fired at them.

The soldier engaged the ASG bandits, allowing his civilian companions to escape. The soldier died but inflicted casualties on the bandits.

Meanwhile, a ranking member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was captured by combined police and military elements in Tagum City on Wednesday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.

Chief Supt. Victor Deona, CIDG director, identified the arrested rebel leader as Porferio Diangco Tuna Jr., alias Simon, Pinot, Ampong and Ricky. Deona said Tuna is the spokesman and deputy secretary-general of the NPA’s Southeastern Mindanao Regional Party Committee.

Tuna was arrested by combined operatives of the CIDG, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Tagum City police at Barangay La Filipina at around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.