Philippine forces kill militant

The Philippine military says marines have clashed with Abu Sayyaf militants blamed for kidnappings and extortion and killed at least one of the militants.

Marine brigade commander Brig. Gen. Martin Pinto says marines were patrolling a wooded area near a hill in Sulu province’s mountainous Patikul town on Saturday when they stumbled on about 30 militants. One militant was killed and an unknown number of gunmen were wounded in an ensuing gunbattle.

Regional marine spokesman Capt. Ryan Lacuesta said that the marines patrolled the area to clear the passage of a military convoy on a nearby road. —