Yagami Website

A total of 43 people, including soldiers and Abu Sayyaf bandits, were killed in a day-long gunbattle in Tipo-Tipo town, Basilan province on Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief, said 23 government troopers were "killed in action" and 13 others were injured in gunfights that started from a 3 a.m. raid at a suspected Abu Sayyaf training camp in Sitio Kurellom, Barangay Silangkum.

Dolorfino said 20 bandits, who have yet to be identified, were also killed in the clash. He said at least 60 bandits armed with high-powered guns defended the training camp against the raiding soldiers.

The military commander said soldiers encountered the core members of the Abu Sayyaf group at the training camp. He said bandit leaders could have been among the fatalities.

Reports said the troops' main targets in the raid were Abu Sayyaf chieftains Kahir Mundus and Furiji Indama.

An ABS-CBN Zamboanga report said Army troops also launched another offensive against the bandits in nearby Ungkaya Pukan town.
The gunfights lasted until late Wednesday, the military said.
After the release of Italian Eugenio Vagni, the last of the three Red Cross members kidnapped by the bandits in Sulu province, the military was ordered to go all-out against the bandits.

The military, however, clarified that it is not in an all-out war against the bandits. It said the offensives against the bandits would be selective to avoid civilian casualties.