Google map of Basilan Island province.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – A firefight erupted between government troops and some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), backed by lawless elements, in Basilan province, a top military official said Tuesday.
Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, 101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the firefight broke out around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday when a soldier stationed at a detachment in Barangay Ulitan, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan was hit by sniper shot coming from an area occupied by MILF members and lawless elements.
“It’s good the soldier was wearing a Kevlar helmet. Na bukol lang yong ulo niya (his head was just bruised),” Gobway said in an interview.
Gobway said they established a detachment in Barangay Ulitan to prevent the entry of lawless group in the area as what happened in September this year.
The firefight continued sporadically until Tuesday afternoon but “there was no report casualty report yet on both sides," the Army official added.
Several days ago, Gobway said a letter from an MILF group led by a certain Commander Huram informed them that families of MILF members will visit Barangay Ulitan, supposedly on Tuesday.
He said they replied to the coordination letter of Huram’s group that they can enter Barangay Ulitan provided they are unarmed since there is no identified MILF community in the area.
However, Gobway said at least 30 armed individuals entered the area, in violation of the condition set by government troops.
He said the MILF group that is now in Barangay Ulitan has allowed the lawless group to stay with them.
“There are reinforcement from lawless groups, as sporadic firefights continue,” he said. (PNA)
