While the clashes tapered off the next day, September 6, Army Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, a regional military commander, said troops were still pursuing an estimated 100 Abu Sayyaf militants.

“We are pursuing them and we will not relent until they are neutralized," Cedo told The Manila Times. Three days later, two more soldiers were killed and three wounded when fighting resumed in the mountains of Sulu. Special forces troops were flown into a mountainous area on the island where Abu Sayyaf rebels have been holding out.

The bodies of six soldiers were taken to Zamboanga City while one of three soldiers who survived the fighting said that as many as 30 Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed in the fighting in the mountain village of Tugas.

“We counted as many as 30 dead Abu Sayyaf. Every grenade we used had blasted five or more terrorists. In an intercepted radio message one Abu Sayyaf told the others that he had 10 dead with him," the soldier said, describing the fighting as fierce. “I remember telling the soldiers to fire at will and kill as many Abu Sayyaf they could. Hell was right there."

More than 10 wounded soldiers are being treated at a military hospital in Zamboanga City, he said.

The military later raised the number of killed among the terrorists at more than 60.

Cedo said troops were pursuing the Bali bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who were with the group of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadafy Janjalani and Radulan Sahiron.

“All forces are now on the ground and with one mission: to destroy the terrorists. We will not rest until we neutralize the terrorists and bring back peace in the province," he said.

Last month soldiers also clashed with the Abu Sayyaf under Janjalani in Patikul and recovered Dulmatin’s bomb-making tools, including remote-controlled detonators.

The military said the Abu Sayyaf was protecting Dulmatin and Patek. A small group of US soldiers involved in training Filipino troops was also helping in the hunt for Janjalani, Dulmatin and Patek by providing intelligence.

The United States is offering as much as $10-million bounty for Dulmatin and $1 million for Patek, and another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Janjalani. President Arroyo also put up P100-million rewards for the capture of the group’s leaders and their members dead or alive.

In Camp Aguinaldo Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, Marine Corps spokesman, told reporters that the Abu Sayyaf “is now on the run . . . they [have] fled and are now hiding in the mountains."

 Around five Marine battalions and several Army units have been thrown into the hunt for the Islamic militants.

“The difficult part is locating the enemy. They disperse their forces, then regroup later," Caculitan said.

The military launched its offensive in Sulu last month owing to reports that top local and foreign Islamic militants were seen in the province, considered an Abu Sayyaf stronghold.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the military will not let up in the hunt for Filipino and Indonesian Islamic militants in Sulu.

Ermita noted that the Abu Sayyaf had been gaining strength because of support from international terrorist organizations.

Other top Abu Sayyaf leaders believed to be with Janjalani and Sahiron were Isnilon Hapilon and Abu Solaiman.