ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military is formalizing a ceasefire protest against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the death of two members of the elite Naval Special Operations Group in a recent ambush in a coastal village in Basilan.
Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, chief of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said they are just awaiting the formal reports before they finalize their complaint before the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, which oversees the ceasefire between government and MILF forces.
The case stemmed from the ambush of elements of the Naval Special Operations Group by MILF guerrillas led by a certain Tanadji Yulos.
The ambush – and the subsequent encounter – resulted in the death of Lt. Junior Grade Christopher Pantaleon and Petty Officer 3 Almario Manalili.
Pantaleon’s group was waylaid while on reconnaissance patrol in support of the military operation against the kidnappers of two Chinese nationals as well as 25 inmates, including MILF and Abu Sayyaf leaders, who bolted the Basilan provincial jail last Dec. 13.
Pama said Pantaleon was supposed to be on a break but opted to join his team in the operation.
Meanwhile, Pama gave assurance that the filing of the protest would not affect the peace talks between the government and MILF.
He added that this would not also hamper their efforts to rescue Chinese nationals Bo Shung Tan and Zi Shu Lu from their Abu Sayyaf captors.
The two Chinese were seized last Nov. 10 in Maluso, Basilan along with Filipino Mark Singson, who was subsequently beheaded.
Another Filipino hostage, Donald John Capili, who was snatched in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte, is believed also being held in Basilan.