Gunmen Ambush Soldiers on Humanitarian Mission in Basilan, Killing Two, Injuring 12
Cotabato City, Philippines — A humanitarian mission in Sumisip, Basilan turned deadly on Wednesday afternoon, January 22, when gunmen ambushed a team of soldiers, killing two and wounding 12 others. The attackers also torched the soldiers’ vehicle during a tense exchange of gunfire.
Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade, and Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of the Bangsamoro regional police, confirmed the incident on Thursday.
The team, comprising members of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, was assisting the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in initiating anti-poverty projects in the conflict-stricken Barangay Upper Cabembeng.
The gunmen, reportedly positioned along a highway in the area, set fire to the KM 450 military vehicle as soldiers attempted to regroup under heavy gunfire.
Local officials identified two of the assailants as Najal Garib Buena and Oman Hajal Jalis, both notorious for criminal activities in Sumisip.
“We are urging the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership to hold its members accountable for this atrocity,” Luzon said, referring to the MILF group allegedly involved in the ambush.
Coordination Lapses Spark Tensions
Anwar Alamada, chairman of the MILF’s ad-hoc ceasefire monitoring group, argued that the bloodshed might have been avoided if the military had adhered to established coordination protocols between the MILF and the national government.
“There was no prior coordination at all,” Alamada said during a press briefing in Cotabato City on Thursday. “These protocols are designed to prevent such clashes, especially during non-tactical missions like this one.”
The MILF is a key partner in the peace process, having signed two landmark agreements with the Philippine government: the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
These accords led to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019, replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Calls for Justice and Condemnation
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr., Basilan Governor Hadjiman Salliman, and Representative Mujiv Hataman strongly condemned the attack. The incident has sparked fear among local residents and raised concerns about the fragility of peace efforts in the region.
“The ambush undermines years of work toward peace and development in Basilan,” Salliman said, as he underscored the need for swift action to ensure accountability.
Despite the tragedy, Luzon expressed hope that the MILF leadership would act decisively to address the actions of its members. “We are optimistic about a prompt and just resolution,” he said.
The attack underscores the persistent challenges faced by peacebuilders in areas with a long history of conflict.
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