ZAMBOANGA, Oct 21: At least 16 Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed on Sunday when fighting erupted between the guerrillas and Philippine troops, the military said.

Colonel Roland Detabali said nine soldiers were also wounded in the fighting in the hinterlands of Talipao town, Jolo island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.

“Skirmishes are still ongoing,” he said. “The troops were on combat patrol when they caught up with the bandits who were moving in the same direction.”

Detabali said the soldiers encountered at least 100 rebels, who were believed to be followers of Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, also known as Commander Robot.

Fighting also broke out between marines and the rebels in the nearby town of Maluso, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, he added.

Robot headed a group of Abu Sayyaf rebels who held 21 hostages, including tourists from Germany, France, Finland and South Africa, for months on Jolo last year.

The captives, who were abducted from a Malaysian island resort, were eventually freed after ransom was reportedly paid.—dpa