While activities related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit were underway elsewhere in Bohol, heightened security operations on that island province resulted in government forces intercepting a suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorist on Saturday afternoon, resulting in a firefight that killed Joselito Melloria, believed to be operating in a sub-leader capacity.
Initial reports indicated that the clash occurred at a village of the town of Clarin, sources from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command indicated.
Melloria, who is said to use the nom-de-guerre Abu Alih, is suspected of serving as the local contact stringing for the ASG, and was apparently on his way to the town of Inabanga, scene of a vicious clash between the Abu Sayyaf and joint AFP-Police security forces earlier in the week.
The Municipality of Inabanga posted updates on its Facebook Account Saturday including photographs showing an apparent bunker and an advisory map providing updates on the breaking situation. (With a preliminary feed from Dale de Vera, News5)
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