FOUR people, including a soldier, were killed while four others wounded in a gun attack in a remote village of Basilan province, authorities disclosed Saturday, July 4, 2020.
The Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade reported that the incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. Friday in Bohe Lebbung village, Tipo-Tipo municipality.
The Basilan Police Provincial Office identified the fatalities as follows: PFC Mark Anthony Monte, a cadre; Samy Akay, militiaman; Alibasa Antaas, militiaman; and, Kong Uging, a civilian.
The police said wounded were the following: militiamen Randy Ibung and Gary Cuevas; and, two civilians, namely, Halam Jainul and Hakim Marani.
The police said that two of the suspects were identified as Karim Manisan and Lito Manisan, both members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) in Bohe Lebbung, Tipo-Tipo. The other suspects, who were also BPAT members, were unidentified.
The police said without elaboration that the protagonists have a misunderstanding as Monte, together with the other victims, has confronted the suspects 10 minutes before the incident.
After the confrontation, the police said the victims proceeded to a nearby store. They left a few minutes later and were suddenly fired upon by the suspects when they were walking home.
The suspects fled, the police added. (SunStar Zamboanga)