ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits killed two men working for a government road project and wounded two others during an ambush in Lamitan City on Wednesday, the police said.
Basilan police chief Senior Superintendent Nickson Muksan identified those killed as Adsar Adjahal Dakis and Abdulbassit Daimon. He said two other men remained in critical condition.
Muksan said the four victims, who were working for a road project in Ungkaya Pukan town, which was being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), were heading back to Lamitan City when fired upon as they were passing by Barangay Baas.
Muksan said the group of Nurmin Dugno, a noted Abu Sayyaf member, fired on the cargo truck the victims were riding in using automatic rifles and grenade launchers.
“The bodies of the two slain workers were already retrieved by their respective families while the two other injured victims were transferred to Zamboanga City for further medical attention,” Muksan said.
Engineer Soler Undug, DPWH district engineer in Basilan, told the Inquirer that prior to the attack, road project workers in the province had received threats.
Muksan said the Abu Sayyaf had been trying to extort money over the road projects.