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ZAMBOANGA City–Five Abu Sayyaf militants were killed while 11 soldiers were wounded in a clash as the military stepped up operations to rescue hostages in Sulu.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. yesterday said the clash occurred at around 5:15 pm Wednesday in Bud Taran, Indanan, Sulu.

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He said soldiers from Joint Task Force Sulu were conducting focused military operations when they clashed with the Abu Sayyaf for about 10 minutes.

Galvez said five Abu Sayyaf members were killed. He withheld the identities of the wounded soldiers but revealed that they belong to the Army’s 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion. They were rushed to the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding captive 31 people, including 26 foreigners, in the hinterlands of Sulu.

The hostages include 12 Vietnamese, seven Indonesians, five Malaysians, five Filipinos, a Dutch, and a Korean.

Galvez  said local governments, the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and security groups were helping government troops in fighting terrorism by providing useful  information. (pna)

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