ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/22 June) – Government troops captured early today five suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits and seized high-powered firearms in a raid on the group’s camp in the hinterlands of Basilan, the military said.
Col. Alex Macario, Special Operations Task Force-Basilan (SOTF-B) commander, said the suspects were captured around 5:30 a.m. at Block 17, Barangay Upper Cabengbeng, Sumisip town.
He said the troops from the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion and 4th Special Forces Battalion carried out the raid following the reported encampment of Abu Sayyaf bandits in the area.
Macario withheld the names of the suspects while still being investigated.
Confiscated from the suspects were an M653 rifle with scope, three M-16 Armalite rifles, a Carbine rifle, two rifle grenades, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, Macario said.
The suspects, however, claimed they do not own the weapons although they were at the camp at the time of the raid, Macario said.
