One killed, seven injured in ambush on Ungkaya Pukan vice mayor, soldiers

Ungkaya Pukan Vice Mayor Ahmadin Baharim and military escorts were ambushed in Basilan on Saturday afternoon leaving one dead and seven others injured, the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported.

The AFP said the ambush happened around 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 12, when some 10 unidentified assailants opened fire on a platoon of Alpha Company of the 64th Infantry Battalion, along with Baharim, on board two KM450 and two civilian vehicles.

They were said to have been conducting an ocular inspection in Barangay Ulitan, Ungkaya Pukan in Basilan province. The security forces fired back at the unidentified assailants resulting in a five-minute firefight.

The Westmincom said one of the soldiers was killed, and seven others were injured, including one police officer. Further details were not immediately available.

“This act is a clear manifestation of the perpetrators’ disrespect for their local government officials, the military, and their fellow Basileños. Hence, we will not stop until these heartless individuals are identified and neutralized,” the Westmincom said.

“Rest assured that this incident will not be tolerated, and we will work doubly hard to prevent the malefactors from perpetrating such incidents,” it added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News