Basilan clash kills 10 bandits, 4 commandos

(Update) A total of 10 suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed during a clash with elite Philippine Navy troops on a small island off Basilan province before dawn on Tuesday, a regional military spokesman said. Major Eugene Batarra, spokesman of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the clash erupted on Lanhil Island wherein four members of the Naval Special Operations Group (Navsog) were also killed. In addition, two more government troops were wounded in the incident. The Naval forces were backed up by elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 7. In a press statement, Batarra said among the enemy fatalities was a certain Abduraja Sadikal, who is reportedly facing murder charges. "The combat operation was launched as a result of various reports about these armed lawless elements [that] bring fear to the villagers in the island," Batara said. Batara said Sadikal's brother, Faisal, was also present during the encounter. The brothers are closely identified with Abu Sayyaf commander Anwar Abubakar, who was killed several years back in an encounter with government troops in Zamboanga Sibugay province. Earlier in the day, Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, Navy spokesman, said government forces were deployed in the area following information of armed men seen on the island. Caculitan said the remains of the slain soldiers have been airlifted to Zamboanga City while those wounded were brought to Camp Navarro Hospital at the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command headquarters also in Zamboanga City. A number of armed groups proliferate in Basilan province, among them the Abu Sayyaf, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as well as those being maintained by local politicians. - GMANews.TV