ZAMBOANGA CITY: A Philippine Army officer was killed while at least four soldiers were wounded in fierce clashes with Abu Sayyaf rebels in Basilan on Thursday. The military said the fighting erupted in Barangay Cabcaban in Sumisip town, a known Abu Sayyaf stronghold. The clash broke out after rebels attacked a group of soldiers sent to track down the extremists. Thousands of Army troops were deployed to Mindanao to fight the Abu Sayyaf and other allied groups. “We are going to make sure that our campaign against the Abu Sayyaf will be quick,” he said.

Source: Manila Times January 13, 2017 12:40 UTC