‘27th IB men not involved in Surallah ambush’

KORONADAL CITY — Military officials belied reports that the armed men, reportedly wearing Army uniforms, who ambushed a truck carrying 20 people in the outskirts of Surallah town in South Cotabato, are members of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion stationed in Tupi town.

The ambush in Sitio Datal Lawa in Barangay Upper Sepaka resulted in the killing of a 13-year-old girl and the serious wounding of seven others.  

Monera Cabra, one of the wounded, said eight men wearing Army uniforms and on board a green pick-up, fired at them with Armalite rifles. 

The victims suspected that the shooting had something to do with the presence in the truck of Ayao Lintang Balunog, said to be a field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) operating in the Upper Valley area of South Cotabato.

Cabra said Balunog, together with his four young companions, immediately jumped off the truck and escaped before the unidentified men fired at the truck.

"Walang katotohanan yung reports na taga 27th IB yung mga nag-ambush sa truck. Porke ba nakasuot ng Army uniforms, military na kaagad ang suspect (The reports that 27th IB men were behind the ambush are untrue. Should they hastily accuse the military just because the ambushers wore Army uniforms)?" said Lt. Col. Carlos Quita, 27th IB commanding officer.

Quita said even civilians, lawless elements and rebels are wearing Army uniforms.

"Unfair naman yung ganoon (That accusation is unfair)," he said.

"We are not trained to shoot civilians. We are trained to protect and serve them," he said.

Quita said the reports tagging his men as the ambushers were just part of "propaganda" to destroy the image of the military.