Soldier killed, 8 wounded in Basilan ambush

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — An Army soldier was killed while eight others including two civilians were wounded  in an ambush by unidentified gunmen in Lamitan, Basilan on Thursday night.

The soldiers, who belong to the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion, were in a military truck on their way to their headquarters in Tipo-Tipo when armed men waylaid them along the highway in Barangay Sabong.

The fatality died yesterday while being treated for a gunshot to the head at a military hospital in Zamboanga City.

Another soldier was reportedly in critical condition.

The attack occurred barely three days after soldiers from the same battalion were ambushed by a group of men led by a certain Saddam Siddick in Tipo-Tipo on Monday.

Thirteen soldiers were wounded in the attack.

The military has yet to confirm whether the same group was behind the attacks.

The soldiers were rushed to the Lamitan District Hospital along with civilians, Daniel Hajim Onton and his 10-year-old son, who were hit by stray bullets, according to Brig. Gen. Fredrick Sales, chief of the Army’s 1101st Infantry Brigade.

Six of the soldiers were identified as Sgt. Edgardo Gayao, S/Sgts. Noel Backas and Dwight Eissen Villamil, Pfcs. Ismael Degamo and Felipe Tañamor Jr., and a certain Cpl. Lagmay.

Sales said the civilians were passing along the highway in a multicab when the gunmen opened fire at the soldiers.

A pursuit operation was launched for the gunmen who fled after the attack.

Col. Allen Rae Co, spokesman for the Philippine National Police, said members of different police units in Basilan joined Army troopers in pursuing the gunmen.

Co said probers are looking at the possibility that the leader of an armed group whose wife was killed during a law enforcement operation last month was behind the attack.

“Probers are initially looking at vengeance as the motive for the attack since the group targeted the same unit, which conducted the law enforcement operation in September,” Co said.

He did not disclose the identity of the group leader so as not to jeopardize police operations.

“He has his own men, but we will find out if they formerly belonged to a larger group,” Co said. — Emmanuel Tupas