1 killed, 3 injured in clash between Philippine military, Abu Sayyaf

An Abu Sayyaf militant was killed while two others, and a government soldier, were injured in an encounter Friday morning in a remote village of south Philippine province of Basilan, said Philippine military.

The military said the Special Forces troopers were on combat mission when they encountered about 15 Abu Sayyaf Group members in the jungle of Sumisip shortly before 7 a.m.local time.

Rolando Joselito Bautista, commander of the Joint Task Group Basilan and 104th Army Brigade, said fighting continued for 15 minutes before the militants disengaged and withdrew towards the deep jungle.

The fighting left a soldier wounded but the Abu Sayyaf Group was inflicted with one killed and two wounded, said Bautista in his report.

He said pursuit operation has been going on against the militants that sought refuge in the dense jungle of Sumisip town.

The Philippine military has launched offensive against the Abu ASayyaf Group who is blamed in the spate of roadside bombing attack against the government troops that already left three soldiers dead since August.