Officer killed, soldier injured in terrorists' attack in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - An army officer was killed while a soldier was wounded when they were ambushed by the Abu Sayyaf group this afternoon in the hinterland of Basilan province, the military said.

The two were attacked at about 2 p.m. when they came back after a mission on civil-military operation to patch-up warring clans from a strife town, known as a bastion of the Abu Sayyaf group, said Rodrigo Gregorio, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Gregorio said the officer, Major Kanong, died during the attack while one of his soldiers identified as Sabre was wounded. The remains of Major Kanong was retrieved later, while the wounded soldier was airlifted to the military hospital in Zamboanga City for treatment.

The Abu Sayyaf group had retreated to the forest as government troops arrived in the area.

The 380-strong Abu Sayyaf group, founded in the early 1990s, is a terrorist group operating in southern Philippines. The group engages in kidnappings for ransom, bombings, beheadings, assassinations and extortion.