MANILA- At least 32 soldiers have been wounded following a firefight between government troops and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Sulu on Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

Four soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and were airlifted to Zamboanga City for medical treatment while 3 others were brought to the Camp Navarro General Hospital.

Another soldier was brought to a private hospital in Zamboanga City as well.

Twenty-eight others suffered slight splinter wounds and are currently recovering at the Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Hospital in Bus-bus, Jolo, Sulu.

Soldiers of the 41st Infantry Battalion were trying to rescue Vietnamese kidnap victims taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf when a firefight ensued in Barangay Langhub, Patikul at around 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Reports from Joint Task Force Sulu said the Abu Sayyaf suffered "heavy casualties."

The body of an unidentified Abu Sayyaf casualty was also recovered by soldiers as well as 2 M16 rifles.

“We are continuously intensifying the conduct of focused military operations, in coordination with the local government and the people of Sulu, to rescue the kidnap victims and to neutralize the terrorist group," Major General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command said in a statement.