7 Sayyaf members killed in Sulu clash — military

About seven members of an Abu Sayyaf faction suspected to be linked to the international terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah were killed in an encounter with government forces in Sulu on Sunday. Lt. General Benjamin Dolorino, head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command, said five still unidentified men and two women had died from the clash. The 10-minute firefight started at about 3:47 a.m. in the village of Pookan on Laminusa Island in the southern Philippine province of Sulu. The other Abu Sayyaf members escaped, but left about 18 high-powered firearms. The Abu Sayyaf group was said to have been led by a certain Abu Benhur, also known as Boy Tondo. Brig. General Rustico Guerrero, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Comet, said they were still finding out whether the group was a Jemaah Islamiyah cell group with links to most wanted Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan. — SMD/NPA, GMANews.TV