MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Two people were killed while eight others were wounded after terrorist group Abu Sayyaf ambushed government troops in southern Philippines this morning, a military official said.
Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, Civil Military Operations Officer of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said a member of the Abu Sayyaf and a village peacekeeper were killed while six other village peacekeepers and two Marines were hurt.
Lacuesta said government troops were on their way to provide reinforcement to village peacekeepers when their convoy was waylaid by the Abu Sayyaf in Long Kiaban village, Talipao town in Sulu province.
He said the firefight between the militants and the Marines and village peacekeepers lasted for about an hour.
Lacuesta said the incident could be considered as a "retaliatory action" by the Abu Sayyaf against the village peacekeepers who have been conducting continuous law enforcement operations against the militants.