Philippine soldiers killed in clash

The President, he said, is focused on ensuring that the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf is “terminated as soon as possible”. A spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines said troops engaged “more or less 120 heavily armed terrorists” in Patikul.

Duterte also acknowledged the gallantry of the fallen soldiers and lauded them for dying for the country.

At least 15 Philippine soldiers were killed in a clash between the army and Abu Syyaf militants, authorities said on Tuesday.

Tan said the extra troops would join two brigades already involved in the fighting. He declined to give specific numbers, but there are at least 1,000 soldiers in a brigade.

The military, however, denied that there were soldiers decapitated by the Abu Sayyaf. “Just ensure they won’t be able to leave the island and we will be triumphant in the end”, Visaya stressed.

Captain Ryan Batchar, 10th ID spokesperson, said that after the 69 Infantry Battalion (IB) and the 2Scout Ranger who was sent off last week, the 68 IB will now be pulled out here to beef up the operation in Sulu. “If you are blind to the situation and the conditions inside the battle area, your casualties will grow”, a military officer who was once assigned in ASG areas said.

“In the olden times, (as earlier generations have told us), the Tausug warrior is an adorable man. Eh bakit pa iyan putulan ng ulo, mga hostage nila, hindi trabaho ito ng totoong Tausug“.

Tough-talking Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who was swept into office in May on a pledge to eliminate criminals, initially called on the Abu Sayyaf to lay down their arms but quickly adopted a tough stance when his overtures were rejected.

“Go out and destroy them”.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding 16 foreign and five Filipino hostages.

Duterte was reacting to the bandits’ claims that they beheaded one of the 15 soldiers they killed during the encounter in Jolo’s Patikul municipality.

The other slain soldiers were identified as 2nd Lt. Ernan Gusto, S/Sgt. Ruel A. Catubay; Sgt. Jay Elwin I. Almohallas; Corporals Omar M. Raddulan, Elid E. Ismael and Saik H. Mandangan; Privates First Class Nestor B. Bacaling Jr., Geral A. Yubal, Dhendo A. Dujo, Roselito A. Arnoco, Glend C. Resma, Ronald Galloniga, Rogelio Vincoy Jr.; and Pvt.

He said a warrior needed only one bullet to kill an enemy. “In the name of Allah, you kill and you unnecessarily mutilate the body of a human being?” he said.

Dela Cruz said the intensive military operations will continue in Sulu and in Basilan which aims to liberate the two provinces from ASG infestation and bring normalcy to the island and peace to its people.

Meanwhile, the president reportedly said he is ready for any counter-offensive by the militants and the casualties suffered by the government troops as a result.

Previous Philippine leaders made similar vows as Duterte to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf and failed, even with help from military ally the United States.