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6 ASG killed in fresh encounter

Six members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed while a government trooper was wounded Tuesday in an encounter in Laus village, Talipao town in Sulu province. Reports reaching the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said government forces were conducting foot patrol in the area when it encountered some 25 armed rebels at 8:25 am. A 10-minute firefight ensued resulting to the death of 3 ASG members. The rebels immediately fled the scene but the government troops relentlessly pursued them killing three more, while one soldier was wounded. Government troops were also able to recover two 2 M-16 rifles. The fresh encounter have swelled the fatalities on the rebel side to 185 since the military assault was launched in last September 16, while government troopers have only 12 fatalities. Meanwhile government troopers unearthed the same day stockpiles of high-powered firearms and war materials, believed to be of the rebels, buried in the Teomabel island, Panutaran town. DMS