12 Scout Rangers slain in clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – At least 12 Army Scout Rangers were killed, three of them officers, while 11 others were wounded in an encounter with suspected fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Basilan yesterday, the military said.

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command, said men of the 4th Special Forces Team from 13th and 19th Special Forces Company were on combat patrol in Sitio Bakisung, Barangay Tambo in Al-Barka town when they were attacked at around 5:30 a.m. yesterday.

The names of the slain soldiers were not yet made available as their families were still not informed.

The military said the fighting prompted some villagers to flee their homes.  – Roel Pareño, Alexis Romero