MANILA, Philippines – Sugatan ang 11 sundalo sa nangyaring pananambang nitong Lunes ng umaga, Oktubre 5, sa Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
Ayon kay Army Brig. Gen. Frederick Sales, commander ng 1101st Infantry (Gagandilan) Brigade, inambush ng hindi pa tukoy na mga gunman ang military convoy bandang 7:45 ng umaga sa Sitio Bauno Dagao, Barangay Badja dahilan para masugatan ang 10 sundalo mula sa 45th Infantry Battalion (45IB) at isang miyembro ng Civilian Armed Auxiliary Unit.
Ang convoy na pinangunahan ni 45IB commander Lt. Col. Franco Baylon, ay bumibiyahe mula Tipo-Tipo patungong Lamitan City sakay ng tatlong KM450 military utility trucks at tatlong civilian vehicles nang paputukan ng mga gunman.
Gumanti ng putok ang military convoy sa mga umatake dahilan para mauwi ito sa dalawang minutong sagupaan.
Tatlo sa mga matinding nasugatang sundalo ay agad na inilipad ng Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter patungong Camp Navarro General Hospital sa Zamboanga City para sa emergency medical treatment.
“The brigade immediately deployed appropriate response and security measures and coordinated with concerned units and authorities,” saad sa pahayag ng 1101st Infantry Brigade.
“An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.”
Kinumpirma rin ng Joint Task Force Orion ang deployment ng reinforcements sa lugar upang maiwasan ang dagdag pang banta sa mga komunidad.
“Our troops remain vigilant and committed to fulfilling their duty of protecting the people of Basilan and preserving the peace and security that communities and stakeholders have worked hard to achieve,” sinabi ng JTF Orion.
Mariing kinondena ni Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman ang ambush.
“We pray for the swift recovery of the soldiers wounded in the incident and stand with their families,” saad pa sa pahayag ni Hataman.
“Basilan has worked too hard for peace to allow this incident to drag us back into fear and violence,” giit niya.
“Let us remain calm, vigilant, and united, and let the rule of law prevail.”
Kinondena rin ni Tipo-Tipo Mayor Arcam Istarul ang pag-atake na tinawag niyang “treacherous ambush” laban sa mga tropan g pamahalaan na nagsisilbi sa rehiyon.
“This violent act against our soldiers, who are fulfilling their duty to protect peace and security, has no place in our communities,” saad sa hiwalay na pahayag ni Istarul.
“Any attack against those who serve to protect our communities is an attack against peace and security itself.” RNT/JGC
