Two government troops members, one of them an officer, were killed while another was wounded in action as Navy Seals and Marines personnel pursuing the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group and remnants of the Basilan jailbreak clashed with the lawless elements Tuesday night.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Task Force Trillium commander, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, said  the firefight occurred at around 7:25 p.m. as the government forces were conducting security operations along the beach lines at Barangay Candiis, Mohammad Adjul, Basilan.

Killed were Lt. Junior Grade Christopher Pantaleon and Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3) Almario Manalili. Wounded was Seaman First Class (SN1) Reynan Sumalinog who is now on stable condition at a military hospital.

Pama said the troops were conducting operations against the bandits responsible for the abduction of the Vice President of Basilan State College and those involve in the Basilan jailbreak, most of whom are believed to have dig in Albarkah town.

Navy spokesman, Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the Philippine Navy led by its Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC), Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez “condoled with the families of Pantaleon and Manalili of the Navy Special Operations Unit 6 based in Naval Forces Western Mindanao who were killed in action (KIA).”

This developed as former Justice Secretary and peace negotiator Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday called on the New People's Army to observe the holiday ceasefire with government forces following reports that the communist rebels allegedly torched a school in Quezon province on Christmas Day.

Bello, a past chairman of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) Panel on the peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF and now a senatorial candidate of the Lakas-Kampi Administration Party said that in deference to the holiday season, the rebels should adhere to policies agreed by both camps and avoid violating the suspension of military operations (SOMO).

“As a sign of goodwill, I urge the NPA leadership to let the people have a peaceful holiday season and restrain their troops in doing atrocious acts,” Bello stressed.

The former GRP chairman issued the statement in reaction to news reports linking members of the NPA to the burning of the Doongan Ilaya National High School in Quezon province even though the ceasefire between the government and the NPA was in effect from December 24 to December 28.