Three suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed while two soldiers were wounded in a clash that erupted in Basilan as security forces continued to scour the outskirts of bandits responsible for Tuesday's attack that left 14 people dead.

Lieutenant General Ben Mohammad Dolorfino, commanding general of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), said one of the slain bandits could be a sub-commander of the ASG by the type of gun seized from him.

"These were the ASG men responsible for the attack in Isabela City," said Dolorfino in a phone interview.

"We are still trying to identify them but the one who was carrying a Squad Automatic Weapon is mostly likely a commander," he added.

Elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 1 were conducting pursuit and blocking operations in the remote area of Barangay Mesola before dusk when they chanced upon an undetermined number of bandits.

Dolorfino said the gun battle lasted for 15 minutes that forced the bandits to flee towards Isabela City’s northeastern part.

"There are an undetermined number of wounded on their side," Dolorfino revealed as he vowed the operations would continue without letup.

Two hours before the clash, Dolorfino said his men were able to recover an improvised explosive device at the creek in Barangay Upper Maligue also in Isabela City.

"It was safely disrupted an hour later, the operations were properly documented and pieces of evidence recovered were turned over to proper authorities for disposition," Dolorfino added.

It was not clear whether the explosive was planted or merely dumped in the creek by fleeing ASG after the Isabela City attack.

Seven civilians, three Marine combatants and a policeman were killed while 15 others were injured in two separate bombing incidents in Isabela city -- near a school and a cathedral - in Isabela City.

Three bandits, including the brother of Basilan top ASG commander Furuji Indama were also killed while five others were captured.

Although the peace and order situation in Isabela City has been normalized, Dolorfino said pursuit operations continue and strict security measures will be implemented in the entire province and nearby areas.