10 injured in ambush, landmine blast in Basilan

Abu Sayyaf group. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the Abu Sayyaf Group have launched an ambush attack in a road construction in Basilan injuring 10 people, a military official said Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Paolo Perez, Philippine Army 18th Infantry Battalion Commander, said his troops were traversing a road project in Barangay (village) Sungkayut, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan at 9:45 a.m. Thursday when members of the bandits detonated a landmine under their vehicle.

Perez said that nine of the injured were from his battalion while the other one was a civilian volunteer.

“Most[ of the victims suffered] shrapnel wounds, but fortunately through the grace of God, there were no fatal ones, only minor injuries,” Perez said.

He added that the service vehicle was destroyed after the landmine left a 5-foot crater.

Captain Franco Muelto, 1st Infantry Division Spokesman, said around 15 armed bandits under the leadership of Furuji Indama were the ones responsible in the ambush.

“This is a retaliation attack from the rebels as they have lost commanders in June and July,” Perez said. “And probably harassment on government projects.”

Perez said that the soldiers were securing the construction of the Pamana Road Projects which would link six towns in Basilan.

A 15-minute firefight followed after the explosion with reinforcement from the Scout Platoon and 54the Engineering Battalion aided the 18th Infantry Battalion against the 15-strong unit from the Abu Sayyaf.

All of the injured were brought to Camp Navarro Hospital for treatment while the remaining troops in the area conducted clearing operations after the firefight.

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