THREE soldiers were killed in an ambush staged by a group of lawless elements in Al-Barka town in Basilan yesterday.
Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Basilan, said the soldiers were on their way to a detachment when they were waylaid by about seven armed men at around 2 p.m.
“They were on the way to replace troops at the detachment when they were ambushed…It’s a scheduled rotation (of troops),” said Gobway, referring to the squad of soldiers from the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion.
Gobway said the suspects were not from the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf but are members of a lawless group headed by one alias Abaas. He said soldiers clashed with Abaas’ group about two months ago in the province, leading to the death of several group members.
During yesterday’s incident, Gobway said soldiers traded fire with the lawless elements for about 10 minutes, until the enemy withdrew.
Two of the slain soldiers died on the spot while the third one died upon arrival at a hospital.
Gobway said they have yet to determine if there were casualties on the side of the lawless group.
He said 18th IB troops are conducting pursuit operations against the retreating lawless elements.
“I’ve ordered (the troops) to locate their lair,” said Gobway.
