MILITARY BLOTTER

June 2: Five suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) killed a soldier in an ambush in Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur. The slain soldier was identified as a certain Pfc. Allan Rogador of the Philippine Army. He was on his way to Battalion headquarters in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur for official mission when ambushed at Barangay (village) Lukuan, Lakewood by gunmen. Southern Command information chief Capt. Jose Ritche Pabilonia said the suspects took away the cal. 5.56 M16 rifle and ammo of Rogador. One platoon was deployed to conduct pursuit operations.

June 2: One person was killed while three others were wounded when soldiers engaged in shootout while serving the search warrant in Mandulog, Iligan City. The slain was a follower of Camad Pagsida, the subject for the search warrant. The wounded were members of the search team. Captain Pabilonia said elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 were about to search Pagsidan residence at Purok 14 when they were fired upon by occupants, triggering a brief firefight. The search team recovered one US M14 rifle, 8 rounds 40mm ammo, 74 rounds 7.62mm, 2 magazines for cal. 45 ad one handheld radio transceiver. Judge Mamindiara Mangotara of Ragional Trial Court Branch 1 issued the search warrant.

June 3: Government troops clashed with suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf group in Sumisip, Basilan, wounding two rebels. The soldiers from the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion were on patrol at Barangay Central when they encountered about 30 fully armed men believed to be under Commander Muktar Mingkong. Captain Pabilonia said a 15-minute firefight ensued, “but the enemy withdrew after it suffered two casualties (wounded). As of press time, military pursuit operation continues in the area.

June 3: Three unidentified gunmen in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte shot and killed a priest and her daughter. Slain were Mocsin Hasim, 47, a pastor of Alliance for Christ, and Mercy Hasim, 21. The victims who hail from Barangay Kauswagan, Baliguian town sustained multiple gun shot wounds in their heads. Captain Pabilonia said the two on board a motorcycle were on their way to Poblacion Siocon from a wedding ceremony in Baliguian when the gunmen stopped them and started shooting them. Troops from the 2nd platoon, Battalion Company of 44th Infantry Battalion at Barangay Matiag and the joint elements of Barazon and Matiag Detachment 18th Infantry Battalion rushed to the scene and conducted initial investigation.

June 4: At least 10 persons were killed when a clan war between two feuding group broke out in Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay Province. Capt. Pabilonia said a group of 10 fully armed men under a certain Ebno harassed the group of Tarsum Indal, a barangay chairman of Bagong Buhay, triggering an exchange of fire. Four of the attackers were killed identified as Hadji Jumadil Saupi, Usman Saupi, Alvin Ajijul and Muty Sahid. The group of Indal suffered one casualty identified as Juihan Indal. According to Pabilonia, Barangay Indal voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion while the group of Ebno fled to unknown direction. One M16, one homemade M70 grenade launcher and one 357 revolver were recovered in the area.

(Summary from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command Headquarters, Command Information Office’s Incident Report as of June 4, 2006)