ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A junior Army officer and five soldiers were killed in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sumisip, Basilan yesterday morning.
A report from the military said the soldiers were in a truck when they were ambushed by about 20 bandits, led by a certain Radzmi Jannatul, at around 7:30 a.m. in Sitio Mompol, Barangay Libug. A firefight ensued for about 45 minutes.
Capt. Ma. Rowena Muyuela, spokesperson for the Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the attack, saying the troops were on their way to secure a government road project in the area.
Muyuela also confirmed that one of the fatalities was an Army lieutenant. She refused to identify the soldiers until after their families are notified.
Soldiers disclosed that the Abu Sayyaf escaped, taking with them several of the soldiers’ firearms, including a light machine gun.
A military official here said they have yet to verify the report and account for the missing firearms.
Col. Rolando Bautista, chief of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade said he deployed additional troops to pursue the bandits.