Troops, backed by helicopter gunships, battled Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo. There were casualties on both sides. The army, and their American advisors and technical specialists, have gotten better at tracking Abu Sayyaf groups and there have been more contacts of late. In the last few days, four rebel camps have been captured, causing the Abu Sayyaf to live a rough, and unhealthy, life on the run.
In the south, NPA rebels raided an army outpost and stole 13 weapons.