8 policemen, civilian killed by suspected Abu Sayyaf, MILF rebels

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Eight policemen and a civilian were killed in an ambush staged by suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Basilan yesterday.

Basilan police provincial commander Senior Superintendent Salik Macapantar said the policemen were on patrol when they were waylaid in Barangay Benembengan, Sumisip town.

“A team of our police forces were patrolling when they were ambushed by more or less 100 rebels. They were all wiped out,” Macapantar said.

Macapantar failed to identify the victims but said those killed were a ranking police officer, seven policemen and a still unidentified civilian.

Initial reports said the slain policemen were led by a certain Inspector Jannatul.

Macapantar said the bodies of the victims were recovered by the responding lawmen and were immediately buried following the Muslim burial tradition.

Macapantar said the police Regional Mobile Group (RMG) immediately launched pursuit operations against the gunmen who were initially identified as combined “lost command” MILF rebels and Abu Sayyaf bandits operating near Sumisip.

On the other hand, two military engineers were also ambushed by suspected MILF gunmen in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan late Saturday.

Regional military spokeswoman Lt. Stefani Cacho said Army T/Sgt. Luciano Abcede and Pfc. Danny Salian were shot by unidentified gunmen as they emerged out of their detachment at 55th Engineering Brigade near the Tipo-Tipo Elementary School.

Cacho said the two soldiers were killed while on their way to buy food at a nearby store.

Abcede and Salian were among the soldiers assigned at the Powerline Co. of the Army’s Engineering Brigade tasked to repair and rehabilitate the Tipo-Tipo school building.

The military were trying to determine the motive of the attack but did not rule out the possibility that Abu Sayyaf was behind the killing.

Lt. Col. Paul Regencia, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Development Support Command, said the initial investigation revealed gunmen from the MILF were behind the attack.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner condemned the attack and said the two victims were non-combatants engaged in community development projects. – With James Mananghaya, Edith Regalado