1 Army soldier killed, 5 others hurt in Sulu clash

(Updated 12:10 p.m.) One Army soldier was reported killed while five others were wounded following a clash with extremist Abu Sayyaf rebels in Sulu early Wednesday morning, the spokesman for the Philippine Army said. About 6:30 a.m., two platoons from the 33rd Infantry Battalion engaged an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf rebels at Upper Sampunay in Parang town, said Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres. Torres said the information was relayed by the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command. As of posting time, Torres said fighting was still on going. "Initially it was reported that one government troop was killed and five others were wounded. Terrorist casualties have not yet been determined," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, two Marine soldiers were wounded in an encounter with extremist rebels at the vicinity of Mt. Tubora in Indanan town also in Sulu province, said Brig. Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, chief of the Armed Forces Special Operations Task Group based in the province. Pabustan said the government forces were composed of elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 5 and 3rd Marine Brigade. No casualties were reported on the rebel side. Thousands of troops are scouring the island-province of Sulu in search for the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf, which authorities said has links to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden. Also included in the manhunt are operatives of the Jemaah Islamiyah who are being coddled by the extremist group. - GMANews.TV