U.S. troops reportedly among fatalities in Maguindanao firefight

A U.S. soldier was allegedly among the fatalities in the recent firefight involving police and muslim militants in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, a muslim group said Sunday.

Amirah Ali Lidasan, national spokesperson for Suara Bangsamoro, said Sunday over phone that they were able to talk with a witness, a 40-year old farmer in the village of Tukanalipao, who claimed seeing a body of a blue-eyed foreigner lying on the ground minutes after the firefight between police and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)'s 105th Base Command on Jan. 25, 2014.

"Our source was among the residents who went at the scene of encounter after the rebels withdrew," she said.

"He described to us the slain soldier having blue-eyes. He even touched the nose of the slain trooper," she added.

There was no immediate word from the U.S. Embassy in Manila about the revelation of Suara Bangsamoro.

However, the U.S. embassy earlier clarified they have no actual participation in the combat operation but only in the extraction of wounded policemen as part of humanitarian response based on the request of Philippine government.

At least 49 Philippine police personnel and 18 muslim militants were believed to be killed in the clashes, according to local authorities and MILF. Endi