Six Militants Killed in Clash with Philippine Troops

Manila, 223 Dzulqa’dah 1437/26 August 2016 (MINA) – Six extremist militants were killed on Friday in a firefight with government troops in the southern Philippines, DPA quoted a regional military spokesman as saying.

Seventeen soldiers were also injured in the clash in Patikul town on Jolo Island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, where the militants beheaded a Filipino hostage two days ago, said Major Filemon Tan.

The troops were on patrol when they encountered a group of about 100 members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, he said.

Among those killed was a junior leader who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipino on the southern resort island of Samal in September.

The two Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were executed in April and June after a ransom was not paid, while the Filipino was freed in June.

The rebels are still holding captive Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, five Malaysians, eight Indonesians, a Dutchman and several Filipinos. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency  (MINA)