AFP: Some MILF members behind Basilan attack

AFP: Some MILF members behind Basilan attack | Daily Tribune

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed concern over the involvement of some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in an attack against military personnel and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) workers conducting a project in Sumisip, Basilan province last Wednesday.

In a press conference in Basilan, AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. stated that lawless elements ambushed military troops while they were traveling along the road in Barangay Cabengbeng, Sumisip. The troops returned fire in response to the attack.

“In the course of the firefight, our soldiers noticed that the number of attackers was increasing. We later found out, through videos and photos circulating on social media, that some of the perpetrators of the ambush were MILF members,” Brawner said.

The AFP has since submitted a protest letter to the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), which is responsible for overseeing peace mechanisms under the Bangsamoro Peace Process, addressing the incident.

Brawner also confirmed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been informed about the situation. “I reported this to the President, and he wanted to know the full details of the incident as well as our actions,” Brawner noted.

Regarding the wounded soldiers, Brawner assured that they would receive the necessary resources for recovery.

Some injured personnel were transferred to the military hospital at the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) headquarters in Zamboanga City, while others were treated at the Basilan General Hospital. “Some troops are undergoing surgery as of now,” he added.

Brawner also promised that the families of the two soldiers killed in action would receive full support, including the benefits they are entitled to, and scholarships for their children.

“We will ensure that their families are taken care of,” he said.

The AFP chief emphasized that the military would take action against the lawless elements responsible for the ambush, and that cases would be filed against MILF members involved.

“For those MILF members who participated in the attack, we must follow the legal process, but we will pursue cases against them. We can’t just let this slide,” Brawner stressed.

“We will take action within the bounds of the law and the agreements we have under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL),” he continued.

Despite the incident, Brawner affirmed that the peace mechanisms between the military and the MILF remain intact. “We are confident that the peace agreement will remain in place with the MILF. They are now part of the government through the Bangsamoro Transition Authority,” Brawner said. He added that both parties continue to respect the provisions of the BOL and the peace agreements.

Following the filing of the protest, WesMinCom chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete confirmed that the CCCH would conduct a joint verification and investigation into the incident.

Nafarrete also noted that the MILF’s Central Committee would send personnel to Basilan by Sunday to address the matter internally.

“We expect an honest investigation, and we will respect whatever the results are. Based on initial facts, there seems to be MILF involvement, and we will pursue this,” he said.

The ambush took place on Wednesday afternoon in Barangay Cabengbeng, Sumisip, while the military was providing security for UNDP personnel conducting a validation mission for Project Modelling Livelihood Initiatives.

Brawner emphasized that the mission had been “well-coordinated” by the Joint Peace and Security Committee under the Joint Normalization Committee and local leaders.

“The coordination was clear from top to bottom, and the letter from the Joint Normalization Committee was addressed to both the government and the MILF. There was prior coordination,” he explained.

The assailants fired at the military convoy and set a military truck on fire, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers and 12 others being wounded.