ZAMBOANGA City, Philippines - Police on Wednesday said that rogue members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were behind the ambush that wounded seven Army scout rangers and a civilian in Basilan province on Tuesday.
Police investigations have positively identified one of the attackers as Jannatin Madjakin, an Abu Sayyaf militant member formerly affiliated with MILF group under Hud Limaya.
Madjakin was among the 31 MILF rebels, including leaders Dan Asnawi and Limaya charged with the brutal beheading on 14 marines in 2007, that bolted from the Basilan Provincial Jail on December 2009.
Senior Inspector Allan Benasing, chief of the police station in Ungkaya Pukan, said that Madjakin and three of his followers in full battle gear attacked the soldiers who were on board the military truck at Barangay Sungkayot shortly before 8 a.m.
The suspects escaped immediately on board two motorcycles towards Barangay Kurelem in Al-Barka town.
A reinforcement group of the military pursued Madjakin's group but they encountered the Abu Sayyaf group under Puruji Indama.
The wounded soldiers confined in a military hospital were identified as Ssg Jonathan Rosete, Cpl. Charlito James, Pfc. Alvin Rios, Pfc. Robert Lubindino, Pfc. Allan Benbenido, Pfc. Basic, Pfc. Aley Galibo.
The wounded civilian has not been identified for security reasons.