Seven members of the elite Army Scout Ranger were wounded following an ambush by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province Tuesday morning, Army officials said.

Citing field reports, Army spokesperson Maj. Harold Cabunoc said that about 8 a.m., a team belonging to the 12th Scout Ranger Company was fired upon by the suspected bandits in Junction Amaloy-Bohe Pahu in Ungkaya Puka town. 

At 8:45 a.m., a Huey helicopter and a 520MG attack helicopter departed from the Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB) in Zamboanga City to evacuate the wounded government troops. Four of the wounded troops were taken to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City for treatment.

Cabunoc said the other three casualties were airlifted by a US Evergreen helicopter, which departed from the EAAB at 9:36 a.m. The wounded soldiers were also brought to the same military hospital. 

“We suspect that this is the handiwork of spoilers, particularly the Abu Sayyaf, who wanted to destroy the significant headway that we achieved from the successful meetings last January 4 in Magkawa Albarka and on January 21 in Sumisip,” said Col. Charlie Galvez, commanding officer of the 104th Brigade. 

“With this [incident], the ASG wanted to make a strong statement that they are still around and wanted the AFP to act indiscriminately and impair the ongoing peace talks [with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front],” he added.
 

The MILF, which is currently talking peace with the government, has a small force in Basilan province. Previous operations by government forces in the province against Abu Sayyaf bandits have resulted to armed confrontations with the MILF. — RSJ, GMA News