ZAMBOANGA CITY, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- Security forces on Wednesday killed three militants in the southern Philippines, the Mindanao Examiner reported.

Officials said the fighting erupted when marine soldiers clashed with Abu Sayyaf rebels in Patikul town where security forces are battling the homegrown terror group. The soldiers were searching for three fishermen kidnapped by gunmen on March 19.??

Army Lieutenant Colonel Randolph Cabangbang told the newspaper that there were no reports of casualties on the military side. He said troops recovered an identification card belonging to one of the three seized fishermen, but there were no signs of any of the hostages.??

Police earlier said the fishermen were kidnapped by pirates off Sulu Archipelago, a chain of islands in the southwestern part of the country. The recovery of the card, however, bolstered suspicion that the trio was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf.??

The militant group is reportedly negotiating a ransom with the employer of the fishermen.

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