FOUR people, including two soldiers, were killed, while 12 others were wounded and a military vehicle was torched in a clash with lawless elements backed by peace spoiler members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Sumisip, Basilan.
Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, 101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the class happened shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Lower Cabengbeng village, Sumisip.
The slain and wounded soldiers were personnel of the Army's 32nd Infantry Battalion.
The wounded were taken to Lamitan City District Hospital and Later to Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.
Luzon said the troops were providing security to the personnel of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) when the clash happened.
"While securing Barangay Lower Cabengbeng, troops encountered gunfire from lawless elements led by Najal Buena and Oman Hajal Jalis, individuals notorious for involvement in violent conflicts (rido) in the area. Tragically, the attack was supported by some members of the MILF, raising significant concerns about their role in fostering peace and stability," Luzon said in a statement.
He said two lawless elements were reported killed while the number of wounded remains undetermined.
The lawless elements also torched one KM450 military vehicle, causing further material losses.
He said the UNDP personnel were conducting a validation mission and stakeholder coordination to engage local communities in the project modeling livelihood initiatives. It is part of their mission in Basilan from January 21 to 24.
"This mission was coordinated through the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) under the Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), with the support of the local leaders," he added.
Condemning the incident, Luzon called on the MILF leadership to take immediate action against their members involved in the clash.
Luzon said their involvement undermines the principle of the peace agreement and threatens the progress made in normalization efforts.
"Accountability is critical to maintaining trust and ensuring the integrity of the peace process," he said.
He assured that the 101st Infantry Brigade and the Provincial Government of Basilan and other security agencies fully control the situation.
He pledged to continue working tirelessly to protect the community and support development initiatives. (VoxPop Zamboanga)