ZAMBOANGA CITY – A man was killed and three others were wounded in a firefight in an island barangay in Basilan province on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
Investigation showed that the firefight in Sibago Island, Hadji Mohammad Ajul town, was borne out of a misunderstanding over military equipment.
The conflict began as a verbal dispute between Civilian Armed Auxiliary (CAA) members Fadzrie Absara and Kimar Andukah Anuddin over an alleged malicious exchange of spare parts for an M16 rifle issued to Absara, who is stationed at the Barangay Sibago detachment. Anuddin is the son of the barangay chairman of Sibago Island, Abdulbasir Anuddin.
The verbal altercation quickly escalated into a firefight, drawing in family members from both sides.
A civilian bystander, 55-year-old Usman Kulong Sahirul, was caught in the crossfire and suffered fatal injuries. His remains were retrieved by his family for Islamic burial rites.
Three individuals were injured in the incident – Manual Kulong Urad who sustained a bullet wound and Abdulpatta Anuddin Kulong and Corporal Allan Duyanan Ansalig who had splinter wounds from an M203 grenade launcher.
The victims were transported to the Lamitan District Hospital in Lamitan City, Basilan.
Authorities seized two high-powered firearms which will be submitted to the Provincial Forensic Unit for ballistic examination.
Joint investigation by the Hadji Mohammad Adjul Municipal Police, the 18th Infantry Battalion, and local government officials is ongoing.