MANILA, Philippines - A Jemaah Islamiyah-led local terrorist group of recruits ambushed a team of Army soldiers in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan last Tuesday morning, killing a soldier, military reports said yesterday.
The slain soldier was identified as Private 1st Class Nurhasad Imlani, a member of a four-man Army intelligence team dispatched to check on the presence in the area of Malaysia JI member Amin Baco, alias Abu Jihad.
The soldiers were on board two motorcycles when the five-man terrorist group, led by Baco, ambushed them at the Kurilim Junction in Tipo-Tipo at about 10:40 a.m.
In the fighting that ensued, Imlani was shot dead.
Baco’s group fled and was later intercepted by Army reinforcement troops that engaged the armed men in another firefight. The suspects, however, escaped.
The presence of Baco in Basilan confirmed intelligence reports that several JI terrorists are still operating in Basilan and Sulu.
Army units in Basilan were placed on alert status yesterday.