In a statement, Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said that soldiers of the 32nd Infantry Battalion encountered more or less 200 Abu Sayyaf members in Sitio Bud Duwa Bayho, Barangay Pansul, Patikul town at around 2:20 p.m., triggering an hour-and-a-half-long battle.
"The said encounter resulted in the deaths of three ASG members and the wounding of 10 others, while 16 soldiers were wounded," Tan confirmed.
Tan said the soldiers who were wounded in the encounter were immediately brought to Trauma Hosp KHTB, Busbus, Jolo, the capital town of Sulu, for prompt medical treatment as pursuit operations are on going.
The military had earlier revealed that troops captured two camps used by the Abu Sayyaf in Talipao town Monday.
Tan said the camps can accommodate approximately 150 persons and have running trenches with potable water within the perimeter.
He added that hammocks, water containers and other personal belongings of Abu Sayyaf members were recovered, but there were no signs of the group's captives.
Last week, the Abu Sayyaf executed Canadian hostage Robert Hall after a deadline set by the group for the delivery of a 600 million peso ($13 million) ransom was missed. While his head was discovered June 13, his body has not been found.
His beheading followed that of another Canadian captive April 25 after a 300 million peso ransom also failed to be paid.
The two Canadians were seized by armed men from a high-end resort on Samal Island in September 2015, along with Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor. They were later brought to Sulu.
Sekkingstad and Flor are still being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group, which is also holding Dutch birdwatcher Ewold Horn, who was kidnapped three years ago in Tawi-Tawi, and some Filipinos. MGP News
Sekkingstad and Flor are still being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group, which is also holding Dutch birdwatcher Ewold Horn, who was kidnapped three years ago in Tawi-Tawi, and some Filipinos. MGP News
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