Resolve conflict, Basilan gov’t tells AFP, MILF

ISABELA CITY, Basilan — The Basilan Provincial Government has called on both the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership to find common ground and resolve the recent armed confrontation, emphasizing the need to sustain the peace process.

Basilan Governor Hadjiman S. Hataman-Salliman stated on Sunday that the 22 January ambush in Barangay Lower Cabengbeng, Sumisip, which resulted in the death of two soldiers and the wounding of 12 others, should serve as a wake-up call for all parties involved in the peace process.

The attack, carried out by lawless elements and MILF gunmen, targeted troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion who were en route to meet with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) representatives in the village. The UNDP team was engaged in a community outreach for the Project Modeling Livelihood Initiatives when the ambush occurred.

“We call upon the MILF leadership in Basilan and the security forces to find common ground that would resolve the issue and prevent a repeat of the incident in the future,” Salliman said.

He stressed that despite the ongoing investigation into the incident, it was crucial to move forward and sustain the peace process. “Both sides must be sincere, accept whatever the weaknesses are, and respect the investigation results,” he added.

Salliman also urged the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as the national government and foreign-funded projects, to continue their initiatives on the ground.

Governor Hataman described the ambush as an “isolated incident” and a “remnant of Basilan’s history,” noting that it was an unexpected event as similar confrontations had not occurred for over a year, with the last incident happening in November 2023.

“This is not a reason for the government and foreign-assisted programs to stop their initiatives. In fact, development programs should be pursued even more aggressively,” Salliman emphasized. “We must learn to accept it and explore what more can be done to resolve the issue once and for all.”

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade, stated that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would file criminal charges against those involved in the 22 January ambush. The AFP is currently coordinating with the Basilan Provincial Police Office to gather the necessary data for the case filings.

“We have already made initial coordination with the Basilan Provincial Police Office for joint efforts in filing the cases since they are more familiar with this process than the military,” Luzon said.

The charges that may be filed against the ambushers include murder, frustrated murder, homicide, arson and possible violations of the gun ban.