AN Army soldier was killed while six other soldiers and a policeman were injured after a group of armed men ambushed the convoy of a Basilan town vice mayor last Saturday afternoon.
The military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said Ungkaya Pukan Vice Mayor Ahmadin Baharim was not hurt during the ambush staged by 10 unidentified suspects.
Baharim, soldiers from the 64th Infantry Battalion and policemen were on a convoy of two KM450 trucks and two civilian vehicles when they were waylaid at around 3:45 p.m. in Barangay Ulitan in Ungkaya Pukan.
The group had just conducted an ocular inspection of the site of an upcoming outreach program this coming Friday when they were ambushed, said Westmincom spokesman Maj. Andrew Linao.
“Our troops fought back, resulting in a firefight which lasted for five minutes. The firefight killed one of our soldiers and wounded six others and one police personnel,” said Linao.
“This act is a clear manifestation of the perpetrators’ disrespect to their local government officials, the military, and their fellow Basileños, hence, we will not stop until these heartless individuals are identified and neutralized,” added Linao.
Linao said they have yet to establish the group affiliation of the men who staged the ambush.
On whether they belong to the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, Linao said the have yet to ascertain it “but that’s a possibility.”
The Abu Sayyaf is operating in Basilan but its membership in the province has been significantly reduced due to relentless military operations over the past years.
