July 6, 2011, The Philippine Star, One soldier killed in clash between gov't troops and Abus,

July 6, 2011, The Philippine Star, One soldier killed in clash between gov't troops and Abus,
Updated - 8:10 PM,

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) -- One soldier was killed while five others were wounded in an encounter between Philippine troops and Abu Sayyaf militants Wednesday in southern Philippines.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command said the soldiers of the Marine Batallion Landing Team 2 (MBLT) clashed with 30 Abu Sayyaf militants in the uphill village of Labah, Sulu province around 2:35 a.m. local time. The militants were followers of the notorious Abu Sayyaf leader Umbra Jumdail alias Commander Abu Pula.

Cabangbang said the Abu Sayyaf militants retreated and splintered into small groups to delay the operating forces from pursuing the main group of the rebels who escaped from the encounter site.

According to Cabangbang, the operation was part of the government troops' operation to search and rescue six hostages. These hostages are Biju Kollaraveettil, 36, an Indian national; Malaysian Mohammad Nazaruddin Saiddin; Filipino-Chinese businessman Nelson Lim; and fishing boat crew members captain Renato Panisales, assistant engineer Wennie Ferrer, and quarter master Jonald Ocsimar, all from Mega Fishing company.