TWO soldiers were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at a checkpoint in Basilan province, a top military official said Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
Brigadier General Domingo Gobway, 101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. Tuesday at a checkpoint in Campo Uno village, Lamitan City, Basilan.
Gobway identified the injured soldiers as Corporal Cyrus Bunda and Private Arny Vember Basco of the Army's 68th Infantry Battalion.
Gobway said the two soldiers were on checkpoint duty when an IED exploded.
He said three unidentified persons aboard a motorcycle appeared and one of them repeatedly shot Basco with a caliber .45 pistol and carted away the R4A3 rifle with M-203 attached of Bunda, who fell unconscious due to the explosion.
He said the gunmen sped toward Cabobo village, Lamitan City.
The two injured soldiers were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Gobway said they have yet to determine whether the attackers are affiliated with the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf Group. (SunStar Zamboanga)