SULU (Mindanao Examiner / May 25, 2013) – More than a dozen marine soldiers were killed and wounded in fierce clashes Saturday with suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, reports said.
Reports in the province said Abu Sayyaf rebels ambushed patrolling soldiers in the town of Patikul and sparking a firefight.
There were also reports of Abu Sayyaf casualties, but this could not be immediately confirmed.
Military spokesmen and commanders in Sulu and Zamboanga City did not give any statement about the fighting and security officials also ignored calls from journalists.
It was not immediately known if there military officers or civilians killed or wounded in the rebel attack.
The Abu Sayyaf is largely blamed for the spate of ambuscades and kidnappings for ransom in Sulu which is one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. (Mindanao Examiner)
20