18 Philippine soldiers killed in fierce clashes with Abu Sayyaf

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MANILA - At least 18 soldiers and five Islamist militants were killed in a fierce 10-hour firefight between government forces and the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan province, 1,400km south of the capital Manila, on Saturday (April 9).

Some 50 soldiers were wounded, according to Major Filemon Tan, spokesman of the military’s Western Mindanao Command.

“Initially, I confirm that there was an encounter in barangay (village) Baguindan, Tipo Tipo (town), Basilan, with results on the government side: 18 KIA (killed in action), 53 (wounded in action),” he said.

He said among the militants killed were Moroccan Mohammad Khatfab and Ubaida Hapilon, reportedly a son of a senior Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that an entire platoon “was wiped out”, and that four of the soldiers killed were beheaded.

Lieutenant-Colonel Benedicto Manquiquis said the clashes began at 7.55am on Saturday, when the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion and 44th Infantry Battalion came across over 100 Abu Sayyaf fighters.

The soldiers had been hunting the Abu Sayyaf across across Basilan and in nearby Joso islands for two weeks, hoping to free at least 18 foreigners being held by the group.

Among those held were Canadians Robert Hall, 50, and John Ridsdel, 68, and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, 56, whom the Abu Sayyaf had threatened to behead if their demands for ransom were not met by Friday (April 8).