THE MILITARY lost five men and 24 others were wounded in two clashes with the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on Friday and Saturday in the hinterlands of Patikul, Sulu amid intensified pursuit operations to rescue kidnap victims. Lt. Gen Arnel B. Dela Vega, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), in statement released on Monday said members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu “encountered more than 50 ASG members last Friday afternoon, in Barangay Liang, and with more than 20 other ASG members on Saturday at KM 5, Barangay Latih, all in Patikul, Sulu.” The military is still confirming reports from the community that at least 10 ASG members died in the encounter. The ASG is still holding several kidnap victims, including Filipinos, and citizens of Vietnam and The Netherlands. — Albert F. Arcilla

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