JOLO, Sulu: An alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed in an encounter with government troops in Sulu on Thursday, June 30.

Troops of Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu conducted strike operations targeting ASG members in Barangay Lumbaan Mahaba, Parang, Sulu at 2 a.m., Thursday. This resulted in a short firefight that led to the

death of the target identified as gan Salahudin, an ASG member under subleader Apah Salah.

While clearing the encounter site, troops recovered the enemy cadaver, one 5.56mm M16 rifle and one M203 grenade launcher. After the documentation, the dead body of the slain ASG member was handed over to his relatives for burial under the Islamic rite.

Meanwhile, operating troops of JTF-Sulu encountered an undetermined number of ASG in Barangay Buanza, Indanan, Sulu.

“The military is doing its best to convince all the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group to return to the folds of the law. But we also remain tough if they refuse to end the conflict peacefully. We will exhaust all our available resources to hunt and pound all those who plan to create disturbance in the peaceful communities and victimize innocent civilians in our area of operation,” Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of Western Mindanao Command, said.