TIPO-TIPO, Basilan(October 6) — Ten government personnel, including two Army officers, were wounded when armed men ambushed a six-vehicle convoy in a remote village here Monday morning, prompting a joint military-police manhunt for the suspected attackers.
The convoy was traveling from Tipo-Tipo toward Lamitan City when gunmen opened fire at about 7:45 a.m. in Barangay Badja, according to Brig. Gen. Frederick Sales, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade.
The convoy, led by Lt. Col. Franco Baylon, commanding officer of the 45th Infantry Battalion, consisted of three KM450 military trucks and three civilian vehicles carrying composite security personnel.
Four of those wounded were reported in critical condition and were airlifted by Philippine Air Force helicopter to Zamboanga City for specialized treatment.
Among those critically wounded were Sgt. Rolando Tumbali Jr. and 2Lt. June Joseph Madla, who suffered gunshot wounds to the head. Other casualties sustained wounds to the abdomen, back, hip, legs and fingers, as well as shrapnel injuries.
The attack has renewed security concerns in rural Basilan, where armed groups have previously targeted government forces and positions.
Sales identified Saddam Sidick, described by the military as the leader of a lawless armed group operating in the province, as the primary suspect in Monday’s attack.
Sidick’s group has previously been linked to attacks on government forces, including an assault on a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit patrol base in Barangay Sabong near the Lamitan City-Tipo-Tipo boundary.
Military forces have also recovered improvised explosive devices and bomb-making materials during previous operations against the group, according to Sales.
Following the ambush, soldiers and police established pursuit operations and tightened checkpoints in nearby municipalities as authorities searched for Sidick and his followers.
“We will not let off the military operation until we can neutralize him and his group,” Sales said.
Suspect’s wife killed in Tuesday encounter
The manhunt was followed by another armed encounter Tuesday afternoon involving authorities and Nermalyn Musa, identified as Sidick’s wife.
Sales said Musa was killed at about 1:06 p.m. when combined police and military personnel attempted to serve arrest warrants against her and Sidick.
Musa was facing three counts of murder under warrants issued without bail by Branch 1 of the Regional Trial Court in Isabela City on Aug. 20, 2026.
Authorities did not immediately say whether Sidick was present during Tuesday’s encounter or whether he had been located.
Sales said joint security forces would continue operations against those responsible for the Monday ambush.
The back-to-back incidents underscore the continuing security challenge in parts of Basilan, where armed encounters can disrupt the movement of government personnel and raise concerns among communities along rural roads and conflict-affected areas.
