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Five Abu Sayyaf members killed in S. Philippines

Xinhua, May 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least five Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members were killed while they attempted to abduct a businesswoman in an island town off southern Philippine province of Sulu on Wednesday, the military said Thursday.

The military said at least six ASG members barged into the woman's house at Barangay Tampakan, Laminusa island about 4:30 p.m.

"The relatives of the victim fought back against the suspects, triggering firefight," said Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS).

He said one of the suspects was killed in the residence of the victim but other ASG members managed to escape. They brought the captive woman, surnamed Maujon, aboard a watercraft.

Arrojado added that civilian volunteers pursued the suspects to the seashore. One suspect was killed in the ensuing sea encounter while three others were recovered dead as the suspects' watercraft landed in Cabingaan island off Tapul municipality.

Maujon, however, was found at about 7 a.m. on Thursday by fishermen off the waters between the islands of Parang and Tapul towns.

She was sent to hospital immediately for treatment. Endi