2 soldiers killed, 12 others wounded in Basilan clash
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 22 Jan) – Amid the peacebuilding efforts in Basilan since the last few years, two government soldiers were killed while 12 others were wounded in a clash Wednesday afternoon with “lawless elements” and alleged members of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) in the municipality of Sumisip, Basilan, the military said.
The Basilan-based 101st Infantry Brigade said in a statement posted on its Facebook page that troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion were on their way to link up with representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) visiting Barangay Lower Cabengbeng for livelihood projects when fired upon by the group of Najal Buena and Oman Hajal Jalis, “who are notorious for [their] involvement in violent conflicts (rido) in the area.”
The 101IB statement said that another armed group allegedly affiliated with the MILF also opened fire on the government troops, resulting in an armed encounter.
The actions of the alleged members of the MILF, said the 101IB, “rais[ed] significant concerns about [the MILF’s] role in fostering peace and stability.”
“We call on all parties to respect the rule of law and the agreements in place that help ensure peace in the region,” said Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon, commander of the 101IB. “The continuation of such violent actions not only endangers the peace process but also undermines the progress towards development and reconciliation in Basilan,” he added.
Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman condemned the attack “perpetrated by misguided elements of the MILF out to spoil or destroy the peace and tranquility of the province.”
“We call upon the MILF leadership in Basilan and the security forces to find a common ground that would resolve the issue and prevent a repeat of the incident in the future,” he added.
Luzon said that the 101IB is “working closely” with the MILF-Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (MILF-CCCH) to investigate the incident and to prevent future occurrences. “The military remains committed to working alongside the MILF leadership, local government units, and other peace stakeholders to ensure that peace is upheld and that justice is served for those affected,” he added.
A video apparently taken by the attackers posted on Facebook by Richard G. Falcatan, of the Provincial Information Office of Basilan, showed one man torching a military truck and another taking a video with his smartphone.
“We deeply mourn and are saddened for the loss of our soldiers who were deployed in support of vital peacebuilding efforts and courageously providing security assistance,” Luzon said. “Their dedication to safeguarding development initiatives and the safety of the people of Basilan should not be overshadowed by this senseless violence,” he added.
The province of Basilan, known as the home of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), has been making headway in its peacebuilding efforts.
Only last month, Basilan was declared “ASG-free” following the surrender of the group’s last eight members.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. even visited Sumisip March last year and said that the “province that was once tainted by violence and terrorism is now a zone of peace.”’
In 2023, Basilan unveiled the Kasanyangan (Peace) Monument also in Sumisip. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)
No comments:
Post a Comment