AFP tightens security after Basilan ambush

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military intensified its security to avert a possible wave of retaliatory and counter-attacks of the Abu Sayyaf and “lost command” rebels in Basilan, according to a senior security official.

This, as the Abu Sayyaf and the lost command rebel faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was positively identified as behind the ambush Sunday that left seven policemen and a civilian volunteer killed in Sumisip, Basilan, according to Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Task Force Trillium.

Pama said the Abu Sayyaf militants were behind the ambush on two military engineers who were killed Saturday night just outside their camp in the town center of Tipo-Tipo.

“The attacks show the desperation of this people, because of their big setback from our operation that left several of their ranking leaders and followers killed and many wounded,” Pama said.

Pama identified the group behind the ambush of the eight police on Sunday to belong to Abugao Bayali, a lost command leader identified with the MILF. He said they also identified the Abu Sayyaf assassins of the two soldiers.

He said the group of Bayali was responsible in the abduction of lending employee Lea Patris, who escaped at the height of the military operation early this month.

“So expected of this people, medyo mainit na ang kanilang ulo at maraming setback na ang nangyari sa kanila. Ang malungkot lang dito na nagkakataon dahil ang inisahan nila itong ating mga kapu­lisan,” Pama said.

The police were reported on patrol and administrative run securing local officials when they were ambushed about 2 p.m. Sunday.

“They were treacherously fired upon,” Pama said.

Police forces in Basilan were accounting on the firearms of the victims that were carted away by the rebels.

While the military have its intensified security, Pama said they will revisit the force protection measures to avert any attacks, specially on the so-called non-combatant members of the military such as those belonging to the military engineering brigade.

Meanwhile, Pama said the Abu Sayyaf militants have been recruiting possible allies to fill up its loss in the recent military combat operation in Basilan.