Troops on speedboats patrolling the waters off the coastal town of Bingao spotted an Abu Sayyaf unit Friday, triggering a 45-minute gunbattle, the military said.

"As a result of the operation, one enemy was killed," it said. Three rifles and machineguns with rocket-propelled grenade launchers were also recovered.

The group was allegedly behind the abduction of a Tawi-Tawi vice mayor who was kidnapped in May and released unharmed this month, the military said.

The Abu Sayyaf is a small group of Islamic militants wanted for a spate of bombings and kidnappings in the south. It is considered a terrorist organization by Manila and the US government.

WAR.WIRE