Rebels ambush troops in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – Fighting erupted when government troops were ambushed yesterday by suspected rogue rebels and Abu Sayyaf militants in a remote village in Basilan province, according to the military.

The fighting that erupted in Barangay Sungkayot, Ungkaya Pukan town left undetermined militant casualties, including a soldier, according to Lt. Steffani Cacho, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Cacho said the troops, under the 32nd Infantry Battalion, were on their way to the company command post when they were ambushed about 11 p.m. by the rebels led by a still unknown leader.

The soldiers, under Task Force Trillium, came from combat patrol to hunt the combined Abu Sayyaf and kidnap-for-ransom group when they came under ambush attack.

The troops retaliated sending fierce fighting that forced the rebels to retreat with undetermined casualties.

Cacho said one soldier was wounded and immediately extricated from the encounter site and brought to the military hospital here for treatment.

Government troops have intensified the operation in Basilan to check on the possible whereabouts of the abducted Swiss-born Filipino Charlie Rieth alias Carl Rieth, a dual citizen who was abducted in his private beach resort in west coast village of Patalon on April 4.

There were reports that the 72-year-old civic leader was either brought to Basilan or Zamboanga del Norte.

The city’s Crisis Management Committee (CMC) said no one has claimed responsibility yet on the abduction of Rieth even as the abductors have not established contact which sent friends and local officials here apprehensive on the health condition of the victim who is described to be sickly.     – Roel Pareño