A soldier was killed while at least seven other law enforcers were injured when unidentified assailants ambushed Vice Mayor Ahmadin Baharim of Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan on Saturday, August 12.
Baharim was accompanied by members of the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST), composed of one platoon of the 64th Infantry Battalion (64IB) and local police, when they were attacked around 3:45 p.m. along Barangay Ulitan in Ungkaya Pukan town.
Baharim, the soldiers, and the police were onboard two KM450 military trucks and two civilian vehicles when they were waylaid by around 10 gunmen.
Basilan town vice mayor safe but soldier dead, at least 7 others hurt in ambush
Aug 13, 2023 06:18 AM
At a glance
A soldier was killed while at least seven other law enforcers were injured when unidentified assailants ambushed Vice Mayor Ahmadin Baharim of Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan on Saturday, August 12. The vice mayor was safe.
Major Andrew Linao, spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), said Baharim was accompanied by members of the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST), composed of one platoon of the 64th Infantry Battalion (64IB) and local police, when they were attacked around 3:45 p.m. along Barangay Ulitan in Ungkaya Pukan town.
Baharim, the soldiers, and the police were onboard two KM450 military trucks and two civilian vehicles when they were waylaid by around 10 gunmen.
“The team conducted an ocular inspection in the said barangay in connection with an upcoming outreach program on August 18, 2023 when the incident happened,” Linao said on Sunday, August 13.
“Our troops fought back, resulting to a firefight which lasted for five minutes,” he added.
The troops managed to retaliate which forced the gunmen to withdraw.
The incident resulted in the death of one soldier while six of his colleagues and one police personnel were injured after the firefight.
The identity of the fallen soldier was withheld pending notice of the family. He had a rank of private and was a member of the 64IB.
Meanwhile, the wounded troops with ranks corporal, private, private first class, staff sergeant, and patrolman were immediately brought to Camp Navarro General Hospital at the WesMinCom headquarters in Zamboanga City for treatment.
The WesMinCom condemned the attack as it vowed to hunt down the suspects behind the attack.
“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,” Linao said.
The Joint Task Force (JTF) Basilan, on the other hand, confirmed that the troops coordinated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) before they entered the area.
Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of JTF Basilan, said the MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) Coordinating Committee on the CEssation of Hostilities in Basilan led by Hadji Samad Ahaddin affirmed his commitment to "launch a thorough investigation if there are any MILF members involved in the ambush."