Around five to seven armed men led by a certain Abaas Jangkatan engaged members of the 18th Infantry Battalion (18IB) in Brgy. Magkawa at 1:30 p.m., according to Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).

Rosario said three soldiers were killed in the ambush that lasted for 10 minutes; two of them died on the spot while the third one was declared dead on arrival in an undisclosed hospital.

The Joint Task Force (JTF) Basilan identified the slain soldiers as Corporal Mike Repupunio, Privates First Class John Philip Pamplona and Jerweb Capoy, all of the 18IB.

Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of JTF Basilan, said the troops were on their way to relieve their comrades from the detachment when they were waylaid by the gunmen.

He hinted that the attack could be a form of retaliation since the suspects were part of the same group that the 18IB encountered “two months ago.”

“’Yan ‘yung na-encounter din namin noong two months ago na marami ring patay sa kanila eh, taga-Baguindan (We encountered them two months ago and we killed many of their members, they were from Brgy. Baguindan),” he said.

Pursuit operations were conducted by JTF Basilan to hunt down the suspects who escaped towards Brgy. Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.

“We are deeply saddened by the report that three of our brave soldiers were killed in action while performing their duties. We pray for their eternal repose and we extend our commiseration to their bereaved families,” Rosario said.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Martin Sadongdong

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