ARMM gov urges all-out war vs Abu

By: Nash B. Maulana - 10 years ago

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman has urged an all-out offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan following Sunday morning’s ambush of government soldiers that left six troopers dead.

One of those killed was 2nd Lt. June Galima Corpuz, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class 2014 Siklab Diwa. Corpuz hails from Bacnotan, La Union.

The other slain soldiers were Sgt. Tranquilino Germo, Pfc. Rolando Entera Jr. and Pfc. Freddie Pandoy of Aleosan, Cotabato; Pfc. Raffy Canuto of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat; and Pfc. Mark Anthony Singson of Pigkawayan, North Cotabato.

In a statement, Hataman condemned the incident, saying it posed a threat to the implementation of the P11-billion road project jointly funded by the Saudi and Philippine governments meant to alleviate poverty in Muslim communities in Basilan.

“We condemn in the highest possible terms this cowardly act of the Abu Sayyaf,” Hataman said, adding that he was recommending an “all-out offensive” against the extremist group.

“I’m here in Basilan right now to visit a major project. We were heading for Sumisip town to see the completion there of a section of the Basilan circumferential road when we received a call on the road from Isabela town that a truckload of soldiers was ambushed,” Hataman said over local radio stations.

Accompanied by troops of the Army’s 104th Brigade under Col. Rolando Bautista, Hataman said his group which was traveling with public works officials proceeded to the scene of the ambush in Barangay (village) Libug, Sumisip.

“The soldiers became open targets of the ambushers that there seemed to be no better position left either for a retreat or counteroffensive on the part of the soldiers,”he said. The government troops were ambushed by the group led by Radzmi Jannatul.

In Manila, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it would investigate the incident.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said he wanted to know the circumstances behind the incident.

“We have directed of an investigation as to how that incident happened. I’m not saying anything as of now, whether who’s at fault or there were tactical lapses, but what is important is that the incident be investigated,” Catapang told a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo on Monday.

The ambush happened around 7:30 a.m. Sunday in Sitio (settlement) Mompol, Barangay Libug in Sumisip, Basilan, where a platoon of the 64th Infantry Battalion was providing security to workers finishing the 64-km Basilan Circumferential Road project.

The soldiers were conducting a security patrol when they were attacked by around 20 heavily armed men, believed to be led by the Abu Sayyaf’s Radzmi Jannatul.

Catapang said the investigation, to be conducted by West Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, will also look into possible lapses, including intelligence information in the area.

“I want to find out if there was intelligence information prior to the incident. If there were lapses, we will find out if there will be people who have to be investigated on why it happened,” the chief of staff said.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the military received information two weeks ago that the Abu Sayyaf would attack military camps.

The military conducted a verification and validation of the information with intensified patrols.

Hours before the ambush, 25-year-old Pfc. Mark Anthony Singson of the 64th Infantry Battalion called his aunt in Isabela City, Basilan.

“He told me that he wanted to have an R and R (rest and recreation) this Nov. 15, and he reminded me to look for him a good text mate, preferably a teacher,” Honeylane Singson said.

At 8 a.m. Sunday, Singson recalled, “we heard and saw helicopters flying by.”

At lunchtime, Singson received word that her nephew had died.–With reports by Julie M. Aurelio and Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

Originally posted: 3:46 PM | Monday, November 3rd, 2014