MANILA, Philippines - The military on Wednesday said it is targeting the remnants of an Abu Sayyaf faction in Maimbung, Sulu following the death of their leader, Albader Parad, last Sunday.

In a phone interview, AFP Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino said it is gathering more information about the remnants of Parad's group before deploying large number of troops to go after the terrorists.

“This is a cycle of intelligence and combat operation. After that encounter (Sunday), we are again building up intelligence information where they went. That is how we operate, we do not just pursue. We operate when there is a precise intelligence report,” said Dolorfino.

“In special operations, you do not utilize big units, because they (enemy) just run away. That is the characteristic of our operations at present. It’s a cycle of intelligence build-up and combat operations,” he added.

Government troops attacked the lair of Parad's group in Karawan village, Maimbung last Sunday morning, killing Parad and 5 of his men. The two-hour firefight also left 3 soldiers wounded.

The military said the group that they attacked was composed of about 60 men, led by Parad and Abu Jumdail, alias Dr. Abu. Officials believe that more Abu Sayyaf men either died or were wounded in the operation.

Dolorfino said Sunday’s encounter was the third attack against Parad’s group since December.

He also said the actual reward offered by US for the neutralization of Parad is $80,000, as revealed to him by Col. William Cultrup, commander of the US Joint Special Operations Task Force. The Philippine reward for Parad is P7.4 million.