ILIGAN CITY – One member of the Philippine Marine died while three others were wounded after they were ambushed by unidentified assailants on Saturday afternoon, Feb 4, in Brgy. Cabasaran in Morogong town, Lanao del Sur.
The ambush was done around three in the afternoon, according to Morogong Municipal Police station.
dead on the spot was Sgt. John Milbert Pamaran while Sgt. Joan Aniñon, Sgt. Jeram Aradji and Cpl. Mark Anthony Bañares were wounded.
The four are members of the Philippine Marine Battalion Landing Team-2 (MBLT-2).
The Marogong Municipal Police Station led by PLT Joseph B Chicano said that at around 3:55 p.m., they received a call that there was an ambush in the said area.
According to reports, the Marines were just passing by the area when they were ambushed by the unidentified perpetrator/s, the police said.
They immediately responded and quickly brought the wounded marines to the hospital. Recovered from the crime scene were the slugs of 5.56mm rifles.
According to MBLT-2 Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Reyes Ronquillo, the soldiers were just doing community relations in the said barangay.
The soldiers were able to return fire using their service Caliber 45 pistol and were able to hide in the damp while their fellow marines quickly responded who were just nearby.
The soldier who died on the spot was badly hit, said Ronquillo. The three wounded are now in stable condition.
In the meantime, troops were chasing the perpetrators who were allegedly members of the Dawlah Islamiyah.