6 soldiers wounded in clash with Moro gunmen in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines — Six soldiers were wounded in a firefight between Muslim rebels in Basilan Friday morning amid an ongoing standoff in the nearby Zamboanga City.

Colonel Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade based in Basilan told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview that soldiers from 18th Infantry Battalion and 9th Scout Ranger Company fought with about 100 members of Abu Sayyaf Group, Moro National Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The encounter started about 10 a.m. at sitio (sub-villlage) Bangkalan in Lamitan City.

He said he thought the rebels were trying to enter the city proper.

An encounter also transpired Thursday morning. There was also a reported forced evacuation in some villages of Lamitan City according to the local Office of Civil Defense.

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Gov’t forces battle Abu Sayyaf in Basilan