(Eagle News)—Members of the military clashed with suspected Abu Sayyaf members under the command of one of the men Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said was behind the Jolo, Sulu blasts.
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Col. Gerry Besana said members of the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion and around 100 Abu Sayyaf terrorists under Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan clashed around 11:30 a.m. in Sitio Sungkog, Barangay Kabuntakas.
Año had said the Jolo, Sulu blasts, like the Lamitan bombing in July last year, was Sawadjaan’s “project.”
Año said the Abu Sayyaf terrorists, who “follow” the Dawlah Islamiyah that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, assisted the Indonesian couple behind the blasts at Our Lady of Mount Carmel cathedral on Sunday, Jan. 27, that killed at least 21 people.
He said the Abu Sayyaf’s Ajang Ajang group under Kamah was also behind the attack.
Besana said in a radio interview that the firefight was still ongoing at press time.
He said there were so far no casualties on the side of the government.