"We are certain he was Dulmatin, one of the suspects in the Bali (Indonesia) bombings in 2002, who died in the clash on Jan. 31," said Lt. Col. Ruben Candelario, commander of the Force Recon Battalion.

Candelario showed to newsmen pictures of the area where Dulmatin and at least 30 supporters were holed up 25 days.

Elite Marine troopers assaulted the area, triggering a fierce encounter.

He said that one of his officers, Lt. Pacifico Nono, a company commander of the Force Recon, reported to him that they are positive that Dulmatin was in the house they had raided at Sitio Lubok, Panglima Sugala.

Following the 30-minute clash, the armed men withdrew, the military said. They left behind the remains of a suspected Abu Sayyaf commander identified as Wahab Upao.

Civilian informants reported later that another man was fatally wounded in the firefight.

The soldiers said that two weeks after the clash, they found a blood-stained T-shirt which they suspected to be the shirt Dulmatin was wearing during the encounter.

A day later, the troops, assisted by residents, found a shallow grave where the body, believed to be that of Dulmatin, was buried.

Lt. Paolo Jose Jandusay, who was one of the soldiers who figured in the gun battle, said they are elated because the military had no casualties.

Jandusay was also one of the soldiers who fought a band of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan last year. Fifteen of Jandusay’s comrades died in that gun battle.

He said that the discovery of the body, believed to be that of Dulmatin, even without the confirmation of a DNA test, is enough reason to celebrate.

Philippine officials said the tissue from the exhumed body will be compared with DNA samples taken from Dulmatin’s children.

Indonesian officials had earlier expressed doubt that the body was that of Dulmatin although Indonesian police chief Sutanto said Wednesday that police in the Philippines had asked for Indonesian help to clarify the matter.