Three Philippine marines and two Abu Sayyaf terrorists were killed and 10 other government troops were wounded in a clash in a remote village in Sulu yesterday morning.Troops from Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 were sent to Bakong village after receiving reports that the Abu Sayyaf was holding kidnap victims in the area. At around 6:30 a.m., the troops clashed with undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members, believed to be under leadership of Radullan Sahiron.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said the group encountered also included followers of Tahil Sali, a commander of the Moro National Liberation Front. He said, "The Marine company was conducting patrol to verify reports of the presence of kidnap victims in the area."
As of 3 p.m, Cabangbang said intermittent fighting was still ongoing between the two sides. He said Maj. Gen. Rey Ardo "has ordered the dispatch of all available air and naval assets to support the engagement troops and to ensure that the KIAs (killed in action) are recovered and the WIAs (wounded in action) are brought to the nearest medical facility."