Scout Ranger killed, 2 others wounded in clash with Abu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An Army Scout Ranger was killed while two others were wounded in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf members in Basilan on Wednesday.

 Col. Alexander Macario, commander of the anti-terror Special Operations Task Force-Basilan, said members of the 13th Scout Ranger Company encountered the militants in Sitio Bohe Libi, Barangay Macalang, Al-Barka town around 6:30 a.m.

Macario said the Abu Sayyaf group was led by Longmalat Solaiman, alias Commander Long, and suspected kidnap gang leader Nurhassan Jamiri, alias Abu Bekkat.

The fatality was identified as Cpl. Marlon Gumawan. One of the two wounded soldiers brought to Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) was identified as Sgt. Joel Glorio.

The military, however, believed the militants suffered an undetermined number of casualties.

Intelligence reports disclosed that among those being held captive by Jamiri’s group are 14-year-old American national Kevin Eric Lunsmann and his Filipino cousin Romnick Jakaria, 19.

Lunmann’s mother Gerfa Yeatts was freed last Sunday night in Maluso, Basilan after the family reportedly paid an unspecified amount of ransom.