ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military yesterday accorded funeral honors to an elite Army Special Forces officer, the first casualty of the year in the military’s fight against the Abu Sayyaf in the jungles of Basilan. Clinton Capio was shot during a nine-hour firefight between the military and the bandit group in Barangay Cabcaban, Sumisip town on Thursday. The military forces launched the attack following intelligence reports of a big formation of bandits in the area. Capio was commanding officer of the 1st Special Forces Company assigned to augment the 4th Special Forces Battalion to help run after remnants of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan. Ron JR Villarosa, civil military officer of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, told The STAR.

Source: Philippine Star January 13, 2017 16:11 UTC