Military honors for Special Forces officer killed in Basilan clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Military honors will be rendered for an elite Army Special Forces officer killed in action on Thursday, the first combat loss in 2017 as operations against the Abu Sayyaf continue in the jungles of Basilan.

The fallen officer, Capt. Clinton Capio, hailed from Baguio City and was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2006

Capio was killed by grazing shot to his right temple, barely a centimeter from the cover of his Kevlar helmet, during a nine-hour firefight, said Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokerson of  the Western Mindanao Command.

Tan said Capio and his soldiers were closing in for an assault when he was hit by enemy fire. Tan said Capio had been wearing a helmet but that the bullet may have hit him at an angle while he and his troops were on the move.

Four other soldiers —  another Special Forces member and three militiamen —  were slightly injured in the encounter in Barangay Cabcaban, Sumisip town with around 60 to 80 Abu Sayyaf militants led by Furuji Indama.

The military launched the attack after receiving intelligence reports of a big formation of the Abu Sayyaf group in the area.

At least two Abu Sayyaf militants were also killed in the fighting. Their bodies were abandoned by the retreating militants.

Tan said it is possible that the Abu Sayyaf group suffered higher casualties because the militants held the line for hours during the military assault.

He said the Abu Sayyaf may have held the line for longer because they wanted to retrieve comrades who had been wounded or dead.

Tan said Capio's remains will be flown to Baguio by military plane after the military honors on Sunday.

Capio, commanding officer of the 1st Special Forces Company, was assigned to augment the 1st Special Forces Battalion to help run after the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan, said 1Lt. Ron JR Villarosa, civil military officer of the 4th Special Forces Battalion.

Villarosa said pursuit operations have been ongoing against the group their forces encountered Thursday.

“There’s a continuous operation. Although, we have an unfortunate casualty... that will not hinder our operation. We have our mission to destroy the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan,” Villarosa added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines hopes to defeat the Abu Sayaf and other Islamic State-inspired armed groups like the Maute Group.