ZAMBOANGA CITY鈥擣ive Scout Rangers were wounded in a 30-minute firefight with members of the homegrown terror group Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province on Thursday (Dec. 17).
Lt. Col. Felicito Cutit, commanding officer of the Army鈥檚 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, said the clash took place in Patikul town around 1:30 p.m.
Cutit said the terrorists first clashed with the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion.
When Cutit鈥檚 unit was sent as reinforcement, the Scout Rangers were able to force the terrorists to withdraw.
The four Scout Rangers鈥攁 lieutenant and four privates first class鈥攕uffered mostly lacerations and puncture wounds. The lieutenant suffered a mild head wound.
They have been identified as as 1st Lt. Edmar Inte and Privates First Class Marben Maputi, Jonathan Guirren, Peter Patricio and Daniel Matriano. They are all in stable condition.
Cutit said the positions and escape route of the terrorists were littered with bloodstains, indicating the Abu Sayyaf men could have also incurred fatalities.
The soldiers found ammunition, magazines and personal belongings in the clash site.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, lauded the troops in Sulu for continuing the fight against terrorism despite the yuletide season.
Vinluan said the military was not letting its guards down against the Abu Sayyaf during the holidays 鈥渢o prevent them from creating havoc in the peaceful communities.鈥�