By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan –
Army soldiers on humanitarian efforts in Al-Barka town in Basilan were ambushed
Monday at around 2:00 p.m., leaving two soldiers dead.
Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM)
spokesman Col. Rodrigo Gregorio said the soldiers were ambushed by elements of
Abu Sayyaf under Commander Basher and Musana Jamiriat, killing Maj.
Alin Kannung, Executive Officer of 32nd Iinfantry Battalion and a
TSgt. Ferdinand Costan and wounding four others.
The troop was part of the 104th
Infantry Brigade’s humanitarian unit under the command of Col. Carlito Galvez
that was going to distribute goats and other livestock as livelihood assistance
to the people of Kambug and Buhi Piang in Al-Barka town and other areas in
Basilan.
Meanwhile, two ASG members namely
a.k.a Mingkong and Mardan Sapilin were killed and three were wounded in the
incident per intelligence report.
The convoy was en route to Buhi
Piang from Kambug for the distribution of the remaining livestock in the area
when they were ambushed. This area is also the home base of BIAF, MILF
Commander Dan Asnawi.
Maj. Kannung was a former Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander who was integrated into the armed forces
after the 1996 Peace Agreement with the MNLF. He was a former rebel from
Albarka, which was then a part of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan. After joining the AFP, he
was actively involved in the campaign against the terrorist ASG in Basilan, earning
him the ire of the group.
The four wounded personnel were
airlifted to the Camp Navarro Station Hospital in Zamboanga City where they are
presently being treated. They were identified as Corporal Julambri Sabri,
Sergeant Darwis Jannatin, Corporal Sajir Iraji and Private First Class
Damin Usman all from the Philippine Army.