10 Abus killed in Basilan clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least 10 Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed when heavy fighting erupted yesterday between government troops and suspected Abu Sayyaf and lost command rebels in a remote town of Basilan.

Reports said troops also captured an Abu Sayyaf camp.

The fighting, which military official described as a “major encounter,” came two days after Marines captured an Abu Sayyaf rebel and another was killed in two separate operations in Sumisip town.

The military could not immediately give details of the heavy fighting that erupted in three areas in Tipo-Tipo town, but said troops recovered 13 high-powered firearms and home-made bombs at the scene of encounter.

“There’s an ongoing firefight. We cannot give details yet because it’s ongoing since this morning,” Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero said.

Earlier, the Marines and the police Special Action Forces (SAF) had merged their troops to battle the forces of the Abu Sayyaf and lost command rebels in Basilan.

As this developed, Guerrero said they captured an Abu Sayyaf member in Barangay Limbo Candis, Sumisip last Sunday.