ZAMBOANGA CITY (August 1)– Ten person were killed including an army personnel and four members of the civilian auxiliary group, when a passenger van exploded during an inspection in Barangay Colonia, Lamitan City, Basilan July 31, at around 5:50 in the morning.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a statement said, they successfully performed its mandate of protecting the people and the communities— at the cost of the lives of its gallant men.
Police report stated, on 31 July 2018, at about 5:50, a van that was earlier flagged down in a checkpoint by CAFGU members exploded while being inspected by the troops.
Killed on the spot were five (5) members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and the detachment commander. Six (6) members of the 9th Scout Ranger Company and another CAFGU member sustained shrapnel wounds.
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. commends the vigilance and dedication to duty and the sacrifice of these heroes.
“They have foiled an attempt to bring in a vehicle loaded with IEDs to downtown Lamitan City —at the cost of their own lives. While we commend our troops, we condemn in the highest possible terms this yet another dastardly attempt of terrorists to kill, maim, and injure innocent civilians,” he said.
WesMinCom Lt. Gen. Arnel de la Vega commits the resources under his command to thwart attempts by terrorists to disrupt the peace obtaining in Western Mindanao.
“These terrorists will not succeed given the strong collaboration between the military and the local government that draws strength from the active participation of Gov. Mujjib Hattaman and other municipal mayors not only in Basilan but in the entire Western MIndanao,” de la Vega pointed out.
The local Police and AFP have asked civilians to be more vigilant in reporting any suspicious people or activities in their locality. –MIRASOL MONTESA/RMN ZAMBOANGA
