2 soldiers killed in Basilan

Captain Harold Camazo
Photo from OFFICE OF THE ARMY CHIEF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MANILA, Philippines—Two military troops were killed, including an Army Scout Ranger officer, in clashes between government troops and Moro gunmen in Basilan on Tuesday, the military said.

Captain Harold Camazo, commanding officer of the Army’s 11th Scout Ranger Company, was killed in clashes with combined forces from the Abu Sayyaf Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in security operations in Ungkaya Pukan town, the Philippine Army said.

He was a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 2005.

A soldier whose identity was withheld by the Army pending the notification of his relatives, was also killed in the gunbattle. Three soldiers were also wounded, said Army’s First Infantry Division Captain Jefferson Somera.

The firefight started before noon and was still ongoing, he also said. The soldiers encountered an undetermined number of Moro gunmen.

A report from the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center said that as of 4:25 p.m., there was an ongoing firing of 105mm shells in Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo, as well as in the villages of Tongbato and Singkayot and Ungkaya Pukan.