11 militants killed in gun battle with troops

Eleven militants were killed yesterday in a gun battle with government troops in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said.Seventeen soldiers were also injured in the clash in Patikul town on Jolo Island, where the militants beheaded a Filipino hostage two days ago, said Major Filemon Tan.The troops were on patrol when they encountered a group of about 100 members of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, he said.Among those killed was a junior leader who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of two Canadians, a Norwegian and a Filipino on the southern resort island of Samal in September. The two Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were executed in April and June after a ransom was not paid, while the Filipino was freed in June.The rebels are still holding captive Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, five Malaysians, eight Indonesians, a Dutchman and several Filipinos.On Wednesday, Abu Sayyaf beheaded 18-year-old Patrick Jhames Almodavar after his family failed to pay a 1mn-peso ($22,000) ransom.Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has directed the military to crush Abu Sayyaf and also warned that the group could be a source of recruitment for the Islamic State extremist group.