MAASIM, Sarangani Province --Two Army soldiers were killed when their convoy vehicle was hit by a battery-operated powerful improvised explosive while on their way back to the camp in early Saturday dawn here.

Col. Edgar De Leon, commander of the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion based here, identified the victims as PFC Junty Gustilo and Private Rommel Dalayap.

De Leon said the remains of fallen soldiers were brought to their camp in Maasim and their respective familied had already arrived after they were informed of the incident.

De Leon said three military convoy vehicles brought his troops to the villages of Pananag and Daliao to conduct civic action activities.

The community immersion, aimed at bringing the soldiers closer to the hearts of residents, has been going on for more than a month now.

"The three vehicles were on their way back to the camp 1:20 a.m. Saturday when an improvised bomb placed atop a concrete culvert went off in the boundary of Daliao and Lumatil, killing two of my men," said De Leon.

Aboard each vehicle were a driver and two security escorts.

"My men reported that it was a single explosion. No gunfire followed afterward. So, we concluded it was a command-detonated explosive timed and designed to blow up our vehicles upon reaching the area," De Leon said.