Paying tribute Philippine Army troops salute in honor of the flag as well as the heroes who gave their lives for the country. AFP

The military is thankful to the gallant sacrifice of five militiamen under the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and their Army commander who gave their lives to stop a bloodbath involving thousands of innocent children in the city of Lamitan.

Last 31 July a van carrying a bomb exploded at checkpoint in Lamitan, instantly killing four militiamen and their Army commander, as well as four civilians, and wounding six Scout Rangers. Another militiaman died later due to injuries sustained in the bombing.

Authorities believed the target of the bombing was the celebration of Nutrition Month at the city center where some 3,000 children are participating, along with their teachers and parents.

Following the incident, the commander of the 74th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Jonas Templo, ordered his men to put up a tarpaulin in the scene of the carnage that in part said: “Their sacrifices prevented the loss of more lives of Lamitenos.”

It was the CAFGU checkpoint that flagged the van loaded with bomb. They became suspicious when the driver could not restart the vehicle with drums loaded inside and proceeded to get help from a nearby camp of Scout Rangers.

The van exploded before the responding Scout Rangers managed to inspect it.

Among those who died immediately from the blast were identified as Special Forces Corporal Samad Jumah, a Moro National Liberation Front integree and detachment commander; CAFGU members Muid Manda, Adzlan Abdullah, Titing Omar, and Hermelito Gapo, Jr. CAFGU Gerry Inso died later in a hospital in Zamboanga City.

His brother, Gregorio, who is also a CAFGU and on duty in the checkpoint survived the blast as he managed to instantly drop to the ground at the moment of the explosion.

“Gerry is a hero. He died to save Lamitan’s children from the terror attack,” Gregorio said, who also lost his wife Rosa who was near the van when it exploded.

To remember their heroism, the military officials in Basilan province called on the locals to remain vigilant and notify authorities “for any suspicious people or activities happening in their locality.”

WESMINCOM (Western Mindanao Command) chief, Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, also vowed “to exhaust every available resource under his disposal to identify the perpetrators in the soonest possible time so that the people of Basilan will have the peace they truly deserve.”

Before the blast the military gained ground in its anti-insurgency campaign, including the recent surrender of some 20 ASG members. With the help of local civil society groups, 14 houses were built for the former rebels in Makalang, Tipo-Tipo town.

The returnees also received food supplies and seeds for farming, while the Basilan provincial government provided them with financial assistance in exchange for the firearms they turned in.