ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 30 -- Government troops recovered war materials after two clashes against different Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Basilan province, the military said Thursday.
The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the first clash broke out around 3 a.m. Wednesday when combined troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF-Basilan) and Naval Forces Western Mindanao launched a military operation against ASG bandits led by Abu Khatan and a lawless group headed by a certain Junga in Kaulungan Island, Al-Barka, Basilan.
The firefight lasted for 25 minutes, after which the ASG bandits fled.
Another firefight broke out several minutes later after the troops established a blockade in the withdrawal route of the bandits.
It said the ban...