Soldier dies from head injuries after Sept. 8 Basilan ambush

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — A soldier wounded in Thursday night’s ambush in Lamitan City, Basilan, died early on Friday, a military official confirmed.

Army Brig. Gen. Frederick Sales, commander of the Army’s 1101st Infantry Brigade, told the Inquirer that the victim succumbed to severe head injuries at dawn on Friday.

The soldier was one of 10 wounded during an ambush at 6:55 p.m. on Thursday in Barangay Sabong, Lamitan City, that targeted troops from the 45th Infantry Battalion who were returning to their base aboard a military truck after picking up personnel at a local port.

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Two civilians—a father and his 10-year-old child—were also injured in the attack.

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READ: 6 soldiers, 2 civilians hurt in Basilan ambush

All wounded troops are currently recuperating at the Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City.

Thursday’s attack followed another ambush in Tipo-Tipo town on Oct. 5 that left 13 soldiers wounded.

Mastermind

Sales identified the alleged mastermind of the two attacks as Saddam Siddick, whom he described as a “local threat actor” operating in Basilan.

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Joint military and police forces have launched hot pursuit operations to track down Siddick and his group.

According to Sales, Siddick “holds a deep grudge against the Armed Forces because his wife died in a military operation” last month.

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“He (Siddick) uses hit-and-run tactics [in] inflicting casualties and then fleeing,” Sales noted.

Military intelligence indicates that Siddick’s core group originally consisted of only three members, but authorities suspect he has linked up with other lawless groups in the province.

Last year, the national government had declared Basilan to be already free from the scourge of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf.

Security forces are currently tracking down 19 lawless individuals in Basilan, including two escapees from a recent jailbreak. But accounts from witnesses led the Army to estimate that around 10 armed men carried out Thursday’s ambush.

Sales said government forces have expanded combat and intelligence operations beyond Tipo-Tipo to the boundaries of Ungkaya Pukan town, while intensifying road security along the national highway between Lamitan City and Sumisip town.

“We are monitoring routes near his relatives. That is likely his support system, so we are keeping a close watch on those areas,” he added.

Sales expressed gratitude to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for assisting government troops by “providing actionable intelligence” and ensuring that their combatants—which are in the process of being decommissioned in keeping with a 2014 peace deal—do not interfere with military operations.

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“The MILF is really helping. They share information and are committed not to interfere. They also refuse to let this lawless group enter their communities,” he added. /cb