[Mindanao Examiner] Fighting between Philippine security forces and Abu Sayyaf militants broke out on Monday leaving 3 soldiers injured.Troops were hunting down the Abu Sayyaf when they ran into a band of militants in Sulu's Patikul town triggering a firefight. A military report said more than a dozen militants under Ninok Saparri battled with the soldiers, who were also searching for foreigners being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf in Patikul.
Just recently, the decomposing body of a 74-year old South Korean man was discovered by villagers near Patikul town. Noi-seong Hong, who was kidnapped in January, apparently died from an illness Militants dumped his body outside the Sulu State College.
The man's body was transported to Zamboanga City by a military plane where it was recieved by his grieving family and Korean embassy officials.