Joint Task Force ZamPeLan Commander Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio denounced as a ‘terroristic act’ the killing on Thursday, Jan. 14, of three unarmed soldiers and one civilian in Lanao del Norte.
Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., said the three soldiers, Corporals Albert Saura, Bryan Binayog and PFC Albert Soriano, of the 43rd Company under the 4th Mechanized Battalion (4th MB) and their civilian companion, Camilo Andog were aboard a hired motorcycle, and were on their way to a public market at around 8:45 a.m. when they were ambushed by the unidentified gunmen.
The four were waylaid at the Rapadan River in the boundary of Poona Piagapo and Pantao Ragat towns in Lanao del Norte. The soldiers descended from their station in Tangclao Detachment, Poona Piagapo and were on their way to buy some food supplies in a public market in Baloi town.
Vinluan said government troops immediately responded and proceeded to the ambush site where they found the bodies of the victims with gunshot wounds.
Second Mechanized Infantry Brigade (2nd MIB) Commander Brig. Gen. Facundo Palafox IV said an investigation is underway to determine the possible motives behind the ambush.
“Kung baga ang isang theory kasi kung ISIS iyong kalaban, hindi nila ma-identify iyon kasi nakamotor at naka-sibilyan (di naka-uniform) tapos may kasamang mga sibilyan. Baka hindi ISIS, baka may mga kaaway o ang mga kasama nila,” Palafox said.
“We are still establishing the circumstances and we do not have any other information at the moment,” Palafox added.
Ponio denounced the ‘terroristic act’ and vowed to exhaust all resources under his disposal for the immediate identification and neutralization of the assailants. – Newsline.ph
