US soldiers in mishap not part of Balikatan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The military yesterday denied that the US soldiers involved in a mishap off Basilan that killed a fisherman, were part of the ongoing Balikatan exercise. 

Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the US servicemen involved in the incident, whose names were withheld pending an investigation, were on routine mission.

Fisherman Akbam Juhurin, 53, was killed while his son, Akjul, 20, was seriously injured when a speeding Mark 5 US speedboat cut through their motorized banca in the waters of Basilan last Wednesday night. Father and son were from Pilas Island, now known as Hadji Mutamad town. 

According to the maritime police, the Juhurins were cruising from Isabela City to Hadji Mutamad when the speeding US Mark 5 speedboat sliced through their motorized banca.

The American soldiers promptly returned, rescued the Juhurins and provided first aid before rushing them to the military hospital for further treatment, the maritime police said.

Cabangbang said the investigation is ongoing while the US forces have agreed to provide the Juhurin family with the needed assistance. 

“They were not part of the ongoing Balikatan exercise but they are regular servicemen under the JSOTF-P (Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines) who were on their routinary mission because they have ongoing humanitarian projects in Basilan,” Cabangbang said. – Roel Pareño, Alexis Romero, Ding Cervantes