ZAMBOANGA CITY — A soldier and two militiamen were killed in an ambush on Wednesday morning in Sumisip town, Basilan, the military said.
Lieutenant Colonel Jorry Baclor, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 68th Infantry Battalion based in Sumisip, identified two of the fatalities as Francisco Lospo and Alpie Talaje, both members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) based in the town.
The identity of the slain soldier belonging to the 4th Special Forces Battalion was withheld pending notification of his family.
The three men were riding in two motorcycles along the road of Sitio Talisay in Barangay Benembengan in Sumisip town when they were waylaid by a group of armed men believed to be Abu Sayyaf Group members.
Baclor said one of the firearms of the slain men was taken away by the bandits.
Baclor also said the perpetrators were believed to be under Pasil Bayali, a sub-leader of Furuji Indama, the notorious leader of the Abu Sayyaf operating in Basilan. Bayali reportedly has around seven followers.
The remains of the two militiamen were brought to their respective families in Sumisip for burial while the body of the soldier, who was also the cadre officer of the two militiamen, was brought to the headquarters of the Special Forces in Barangay Cabunbata, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan. /kga