3 soldiers wounded in 2 ambush incidents in Basilan

Three soldiers from the Army’s Special Forces were wounded in two separate ambush incidents in Basilan early Wednesday, the military said.

Eight enlisted personnel of the Army’s 14th Special Forces company were conducting security patrol when they were ambushed near the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church Feast of Maluso at around 3:30 a.m., said Western Mindanao Command spokesperon Major Filemon Tan.

Two soldiers were wounded from the incident.

While the wounded soldiers were transported to Ballaho Clinic also in Maluso at around 3:50 a.m., they were ambushed again by armed men, which left one soldier wounded.

“The troops immediately returned fire….The firefight lasted for about two minutes,” Tan said.

The armed men behind the ambush incidents were unidentified but Tan said they were likely members of the Abu Sayyaf Group. TVJ