Eleven government troops were wounded, three of them critically, when unidentified gunmen ambushed a military convoy in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, on Monday morning. The attack hit a province where local officials and the military have spent years working to keep the peace.
Brig. Gen. Frederick Sales, commander of the Army’s 1101st Infantry (Gagandilan) Brigade, told the Inquirer the attack happened at 7:45 a.m. in Sitio Bauno Dagao, Barangay Badja. Ten soldiers from the 45th Infantry Battalion (45IB) and one member of the Civilian Armed Auxiliary Unit were hurt. The convoy, led by 45IB commander Lt. Col. Franco Baylon, was traveling from Tipo-Tipo toward Lamitan City in three KM450 military utility trucks and three civilian vehicles when the gunmen opened fire. The troops fired back, and the exchange lasted about two minutes, Sales said, citing Baylon’s report.
A Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopter flew the three most seriously wounded to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City for emergency treatment. Wounded troops were also transferred from Lamitan District Hospital to Zamboanga City on Monday for further care. The brigade said it deployed response and security measures, coordinated with other units and authorities, and opened an investigation to establish what happened and identify the attackers. Joint Task Force Orion confirmed it sent reinforcements to secure the area and protect nearby communities, and it asked the public to stay calm and avoid spreading unverified information on social media.
Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman condemned the ambush and urged security forces to pursue the gunmen “firmly but with restraint” to protect innocent civilians. He asked residents to stay calm and help authorities arrest the suspects, saying the province has worked too hard for peace to be pulled back into fear and violence. Hataman also said he was praying for the quick recovery of the wounded soldiers and stood with their families.
Tipo-Tipo Mayor Arcam Istarul called the attack a “treacherous ambush” against government forces serving the region and said violence against soldiers protecting peace and security has no place in local communities. He added that an attack on the people who protect those communities is an attack on peace and security itself. Local authorities and military officials urged residents to remain vigilant while law enforcement agencies conduct a joint investigation to track down those responsible.
