By Francis Wakefield
Sporadic gunfights between military troops and 10 Abu Sayyaf members under Furudji Indama Tuesday in Basilan resulted in the death of a militant and the seizure of a high-powered firearm.
Soldiers from the Army's 18th Infantry Battalion exchanged fire with the terrorists in Barangay Bohe Pahu, Ungkaya Pukan at about 8:15 a.m.
After the encounter they found the body of an Abu Sayyaf member and an M16 rifle, according to Col. Fernando Reyeg, Joint Task Force Basilan Commander.
About 15 minutes later, soldiers from 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion engaged seven Abu Sayyaf militants under Indama in Barangay Bohe Pahu.
The firefight lasted for five minutes with no casualty reported on the government side.
“We commit to sustain our campaign against terrorism that derails peace and development in the area of operations. Hitherto, we work hard to crumble terrorists and to address security threats by intensifying our offensives and by involving stakeholders and the people of Mindanao,” Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, the commander of Western Mindanao Command, said.