Manila, Dhu-AlQa'dah 05, 1436, August 20, 2015, SPA -- At least 17 militants and one soldier were killed in two separate clashes in the southern Philippines, military officials said Thursday, according to dpa. Fifteen rebels were killed in clash with government troops in a remote village in Indanan town on Jolo Island, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, according to Colonel Allan Arrojado, a regional task force commander. Arrojado said the fighting erupted late Wednesday when patrolling army rangers encountered about 80 guerrillas in the village of Buanza. "We do not have any casualties," he said. "We are conducting pursuit operations today." Under cover of the clash, two captive coast guard personnel escaped, armed forces spokesman Colonel Noel Detoyato said. --SPA 11:15 LOCAL TIME 08:15 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w