By PNA and Nonoy Lacson
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Government troops neutralized three suspected suicide bombers - two of them alleged Egyptian nationals -- in a shootout in Sitio Itawon, Barangay Kan Islam, Indanan, Sulu before dusk Tuesday.
Col. Ignatius Patrimonio, Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade commander said the foreign terrorists were allegedly the husband and son of the foreign female suicide bomber, who attacked a military post on September 8 in kilometer 3, Barangay Tagbak, Indanan.
Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan identified the alleged husband of the female suicide bomber as Abduramil and his son Abdurahman. The third fatality was identified as James, a Filipino and member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Their bodies were brought to the Camp Gen Teodulfo Baustista hospital morgue in Busbus, Jolo.
The thwarted September 8 suicide bomb attack resulted in the death of the bomber, described by the military as “a female person wearing black hijab."
Patrimonio said the shootout ensued when the terrorists opened fire when they were flagged down by the troops of the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion manning a checkpoint in Sitio Itawon.
He said the troops returned fire, resulting in the death of the three terrorists who were riding a motorcycle.
Government troops recovered from the slain terrorists a .45-caliber pistol with ammunition, a hand grenade, and two vests with explosives and triggering devices.
According to Patrimonio, the recovered vests were identical to the vest used by the suicide bombers during the two bomb attacks on June 28 in Barangay Tanjung, Indanan, and on September 8 in Barangay Tagbak, also in Indanan.
“The hostile plan of the terrorists in Sulu could have caused tremendous casualties and could have tarnished the image of this country if not immediately acted upon by our soldiers. Hence, I commend them for such patriotic act,” he said.
Army Maj Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr. commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Sulu commander said the three suspected suicide bombers came from Maimbung, Sulu and were heading for Jolo.
He lauded the soldiers who carried out the military operations for their sacrifice, superb planning and careful execution of their tasks to apprehend the suicide bombers.
“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) in Sulu will continue to hunt down all the remaining ASG members in Sulu. Hence, I urge them to surrender and live a normal life instead of being hunt(ed) down as fleeing criminals and disgrace to the peace-loving Tausug Community,” Vinluan warned.
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commanding general of the Western Mindanao Command, said the operation stemmed from a validated intelligence report of another planned suicide bombing in Sulu. (with a report from Aaron Recuenco)