Basilan ambush death toll now 2

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The number of fatalities in the weekend ambush in Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan climbed to two yesterday after one of the eight wounded officers died while being treated in a hospital.

The military has tagged former members of the separatist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as responsible for the attack that occurred in Barangay Ulitan on Sunday afternoon.

Army Private Marjohn Tenido died at the scene of the incident, while a police officer – Pat. Abdurafic Acalun – died several hours later while undergoing treatment in a hospital in this city.

Troopers of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion along with Ungkaya Pukan Vice Mayor Ahmadin Baharim and Acalun were on their way to check a venue for a scheduled outreach program when around 10 armed men waylaid them.

Seven soldiers suffered gunshot wounds and were brought to a hospital for treatment along with Acalun.

Baharim was not wounded in the attack.

Results of a pursuit operation led ground forces to conclude that the perpetrators were former MILF members, according to Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, chief of the Army’s 101st Brigade and Joint Task Force Basilan.

“Right now, the pressure is on the MILF side to show their sincerity. They have to produce the perpetrators,” Luzon said.

In November 2022, military troopers figured in a firefight with around 100 MILF combatants, who assaulted an outpost of the 64th IB in the same village.

The military has yet to confirm if the recent attack was related to the previous hostility.

MILF leaders in the area denied that the attack was perpertrated by their members, Luzon said.