Southeast Asian terror suspect accused of leading attack that killed Filipino soldier

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine military officials say a Southeast Asian militant is suspected of leading an ambush that killed an army intelligence officer in the country's south.

Army brigade commander Col. Carlito Galvez says suspected al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf fighters led by Amin Baco opened fire on three army intelligence officers who were traveling on motorcycles Tuesday to a remote area of Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province to check the reported presence of armed men.

Galvez said Wednesday that one of the soldiers was killed. He said the attackers escaped and then clashed again with another group of army troops before withdrawing into the jungle.

Philippine intelligence officials say Baco is a young militant from either Indonesia or Malaysia who is linked to the Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.