Two Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed in a high seas clash with government forces on Monday off the island of Basilan, provincial spokesman Cris Puno said. A soldier and a civilian volunteer accompanying the troops were also wounded.
The rebels were believed to be fleeing to Basilan from the nearby island of Jolo, where a massive military operation has been launched to rescue as many as five Filipino hostages held by the rebels.
Army troops meanwhile stormed a suspected Abu Sayyaf lair near the Jolo town of Talipao on Monday, triggering an hour-long running gunbattle in which four gunmen were killed, said Army Col. Alexander Aleo said.
"At least four are confirmed dead, but enemy casualties could be more. We have radio intercepts saying more rebels are wounded in the clash. Two soldiers were also wounded," Aleo said.
Aleo said the rebel unit the soldiers had fought was a unit under the command of senior Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, who in 2000 launched a cross-border raid into the Malaysian resort of Sipadan and kidnapped 21 mostly European hostages.
The clashes came on the same day as President Arroyo in Manila vowed there will be no easing of military operations to crush the gunmen during the long Easter break.
Mrs. Arroyo’s statement came as the rebels seized a Filipino-Chinese trader on an island off Jolo on Saturday, adding to the four Filipina Christian preachers they kidnapped in August last year.