Army major, 1 other soldier, killed in Basilan ambush

From InterAksyon (May 7): Army major, 1 other soldier, killed in Basilan ambush

Two soldiers, one of them an Army major, were killed Monday afternoon in an ambush staged by the Abu Sayyaf in Al Barka town, Basilan.

Colonel Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army's 104th Brigade, said about 180 soldiers from the 18th Infantry Battalion and civilians from the Office of the President were ambushed by about 30 Abu Sayyaf fighters in Sitio Pagtawanan, Barangay Magcawa at around 3 p.m.

Galvez said the soldiers and civilians were on their way to Barangay Bohe Piyang to distribute 20 goats to the community and check on projects of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process when gunmen led by Basir Kasaran and Musana Jamiri fired on them.

Major Alin Kannung, executive officer of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, and Technical Sergeant Ferdinand Costan were killed while four other soldiers of the 18th IB were also wounded.

"Government forces were subjected to mortar and sniper fires for three hours," Galvez said.

At least six of the extremist fighters were killed as reinforcements were rushed to the scene of the fighting.

Galvez said the ambush was possibly in retaliation for the April 15 military operation in Tipo-Tipo town in which eight Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed when their camp was overrun.

Kannung, said Galvez, has long been a target of the Abu Sayyaf because of his peace efforts in the province.

Aside from his stint in the 32nd IB, Kannung, 53, was also part of the monitoring team on the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

His body was brought to his home in Barangay Kalih in Al Barka.

The wounded soldiers were airlifted to Zamboanga City for medical treatment.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/61156/army-major-1-other-soldier-killed-in-basilan-ambush