US troops nearly figure in Basilan encounter

MANILA, Philippines - American soldiers were nearby when an encounter broke out between government forces and  suspected Abu Sayyaf militants, which left eight dead in Al-Barkah, Basilan last Monday, a senior military official said yesterday.

Filipino soldiers led the US servicemen out of Sitio Pagatawnan, Barangay Magcawa, said Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Basilan-based 104th Infantry Brigade.

“They (US troops) wanted to inspect their sponsored Mincost Project, but when the firing started, we had them withdrawn from the area. No one among them got involved in the fighting,” Galvez said.