8 hurt in blast, ambush in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Abu Sayyaf militants set off a landmine that wounded eight, including five soldiers, Thursday in a far flung village in Basilan Province.

The explosion was followed by an ambush that triggered firefight in the road crossing Barangay Sungkayot and Barangay Tipo-Tipo proper in Tipo-Tipo town, said Lt. Col. Jose Paolo Perez, commanding officer of the 18th Infantry Battalion (IB).

Perez said those wounded in the attack included five regular army soldiers under the Alpha Company 18th IB, while the three others were members of the Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) and Special CAA (SCAA).

“The soldiers suffered slight wounds that were described to be not life threatening,” Perez said.

Perez said his soldiers were deployed in the area to secure the circumferential road project being fasttracked by President Benigno Aquino III.

The troopers were aboard their vehicle when the Abu Sayyaf group under Puruji Indama set off the landmine and then launched the ambush.

Perez said the troopers, however, managed to retaliate,  sparking a brief firefight as the 18th IB scout platoon and the civilian volunteers of Barangay Sungkayot provided reinforcement that forced the Abu Sayyaf militants to retreat with suspected casualties.

The ground military commander said additional troops were deployed and launched a pursuit operation against the Abu Sayyaf group.

The military said two MG-520 helicopters backed by a Huey helicopter immediately airlifted and transported the wounded troopers to the military hospital in this city for treatment.