2 soldiers killed, 4 hurt in Maguindanao

From ABS-CBN (Jul 13): 2 soldiers killed, 4 hurt in Maguindanao

Two soldiers of the Army's 2nd Mechanized Battalion were killed and 4 other soldiers were wounded in a strafing incident in Barangay Kateman, Guindulungan, Maguindanao at about 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, the military said.

Col. Edgar Gonzales, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, told ABS-CBN News through a phone interview that the soldiers were on board a KM450 military truck going to their detachment when they were fired upon by an unidentified number of gunmen from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

A firefight ensued for about 10 minutes. The military truck was badly hit by high powered firearms, the official said.

BIFF spokesperson Abu Missry Mama told ABS-CBN News that their troops were behind the attack.

Mama said no one was killed from their side.

“Dumaan ang mga tropa ng BIFF sa lugar tapos nagkataon na may dumaan din na sundalo kaya nagkaputukan,” Mama said.

The incident occurred 4 kilometers away from the national highway.
Pursuit operations are still ongoing.

The 2 fatalities were brought to the mortuary of the 6th Infantry Division while the 4 other wounded soldiers were brought to the hospital for treatment.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, the 6th ID spokesperson, said the names of the 2 dead soldiers and 4 other wounded soldiers will be released as soon as their family and relatives have been informed.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/07/13/13/2-soldiers-killed-4-hurt-maguindanao