5 soldiers, 3 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Patikul, Sulu clash —AFP

Five soldiers were killed while five others were wounded in an armed clash between government troops and suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu on Saturday.

In an interview on radio dzBB, Colonel Gerry Besana, Spokesman, AFP Western Mindanao Command, also said that on the side of the bandit group, three were killed and more than 15 were injured, including "high-value target" Idang Susukan, a sub-leader of the group under Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

A separate report on GMA News TV Live said one of the three slain bandits was a "foreign terrorist."

Besana said the firefight happened at a "thickly vegetated" area at Sitio Sungkog, Barangay Kabbon Takas in Patikul around 11:30 a.m. and lasted almost two hours.

Besana admitted government troops had a hard time battling the bandits.

"Malakas pa po [ang puwersa ng kalaban dito sa area na to] kaya medyo hirap rin po ang tropa natin... Thickly vegitatesd ito kaya medyo nahirapan ang tropa natin," he said.

Apart from the firefight on the ground, the military is also conducting an air strike against the Abu Sayyaf in the area, as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' intensified attacks against the Abu Sayyaf Group following the explosions that tore through the Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo during a Sunday mass, killing at least 21 people and injuring 100 others.

Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo said the conflict started at around 11 a.m. and is still continuing as of posting time, Sam Nielsen's Super Radyo dzBB reported.

The Joint Task Force Sulu revealed in an afternoon update that troops of the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion under Lieutenant Col. Marlo Jomalesa encountered more or less 100 ASG members under Sawadjaan. — with Jamil Santos/MDM, GMA News