2 Abu Sayyaf gunmen slain in Basilan clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed and six others – including three soldiers – were injured during a heavy clash in Basilan on Saturday, the military said.

Colonel Alexander Macario, commander of Task Force Basilan, said Scout Ranger soldiers were patrolling Buug Macalang village in Albarkah town when they clashed with Abu Sayyaf gunmen led by Nurhassan Jamiri.

Jamiri is a notorious Abu Sayyaf leader involved in high-profile kidnappings in Basilan.

He also figured in the 2007 ambush in Albarkah and beheading of seven of the 14 Marine soldiers, who died in the incident.

Macario said Saturday’s clash started 6:15 a.m. and lasted until about 9 a.m.

“The slain Abu Sayyaf are body count. We suffered three wounded in action – all members of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion,” he said.

Macario said soldiers also recovered three M16 rifles, an M203 grenade launcher, an M14 rifle and assorted paraphernalia from the site of the clash.

Macario has said intelligence reports indicate that Abu Sayyaf has been planning to bomb a church, small hotels and gas stations on Basilan, about 550 miles (880 kilometers) south of Manila.

The Abu Sayyaf is a band of self-styled Islamists, which gained notoriety from its kidnapping and bombing activities.

It is being linked to the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah.