MANILA, Philippines (AP) – At least 43 Philippine police commandos were killed in a fierce battle with Muslim guerrillas after launching an assault in which they may have killed one of Southeast Asia’s most-wanted terrorists, officials said Monday.
The clash Sunday – the biggest single-day combat loss for the government in recent memory – may have resulted from the commandos’ failure to follow the terms of a cease-fire with the guerrillas by notifying them of their presence in the area, a rebel leader said.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas described the clash as a “misencounter.”
A police Special Action Force member remained missing while 11 others were wounded in the fighting in the remote village of Tukanalipao in Maguindanao province, officials said. Seven of the dead were officers.
Roxas called the commandos “fallen heroes” who sacrificed their lives to try to capture Malaysian bombing suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, or Marwan. The top terror suspect may have been killed by the commandos and efforts were underway to confirm that suspicion, he said.