Soldier killed, 2 others wounded in Patikul ambush

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A soldier was killed while two others were hurt when Abu Sayyaf gunmen reportedly shot their vehicle with assault rifles late Tuesday in Barangay Tugas in Patikul, Sulu.

Reports reaching the government center in Cotabato City of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the slain soldier belonged to the Army's 45th Infantry Battalion.

Sulu is a component-province of BARMM, which also covers Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.

The Army private and his companions were on board a military truck when they were ambushed at past 6 p.m.

Two other privates were wounded in the attack.

Responding soldiers from nearby detachments and personnel of the Patikul municipal police rushed them to a hospital in Sulu's capital town, Jolo, for treatment.