Three militiamen were killed while six soldiers, including two officers, and 11 other militiamen were wounded in clashes with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sumisip, Basilan on Monday morning.
Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the first encounter happened at 7:15 a.m. in Barangay Cabcaban.
Another encounter occurred between the withdrawing bandits and reinforcing soldiers some 30 minutes later.
Petinglay said six soldiers and 11 militiamen were wounded in the second clash.