1 soldier die, 2 wounded in alleged Abu Sayyaf ambush in Basilan

December 18, 2017

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A soldier was killed while two others were wounded in an ambush by alleged Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province, police said Monday. The ambush took place around 6:20 a.m. at Barangay Badja, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan province, according to the police. Basilan police said the troops were checking a reported presence of an improvised explosive device (IED) when they were ambushed. Despite being in a bad position, the soldiers  returned fire prompting the gunmen to flee towards Barangay Kamamburingan, Ungkaya Pukan. Police did not release the identities of the slain and wounded soldiers except to say they belong to the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion. The ambush occurred hours after an IED exploded near the port of Lamitan City, Basilan. Police said no one was killed or wounded in the explosion that happened around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. DMS