Gunmen fire on US, PH troops in Basilan

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Philippines—Unidentified gunmen on Saturday fired on a team of American and Filipino soldiers and a dozen construction workers at a road project in Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan, the Philippine military reported.

The day before, US troops escorted by Filipino soldiers were also shot at while on their way to inspect another project in Barangay Magkawa in Al-Barka town.

None of the Americans who were helping implement US-funded road projects were hurt, according to Task Force Basilan commander Col. Ramon Yogyog.

Yogyog said a Filipino construction worker was wounded in the incident in Barangay Amaloy in Ungkaya Pukan, which occurred shortly before 7 a.m.

He said four American soldiers were supervising a road project in Amaloy when 10 gunmen fired on them.

Yogyog said Filipino Scout Rangers, who were escorting the US forces, had fired back and engaged the attackers in a brief battle.

He said none of the Americans joined the fire fight that lasted about 20 minutes.

“One of the local workers for the road project identified as Komeini Muhammad, 32, and a resident of Muhammad Ajul sustained a gunshot wound in the buttocks,” Yogyog said.

Senior Insp. John Cundo, Ungkaya Pukan police chief, said Muhammad was rushed by the US troops to Barangay Camalig, where the headquarters of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion is located, and treated him there.

Col. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade, said US soldiers have been helping build infrastructure projects in Basilan as part of their humanitarian mission under the Visiting Forces Agreement.

He said the projects were funded by the government of the United States.

Lt. Commander Andrew Desany, chief of the US-led Joint Task Force Archipelago, said he had not yet received a full report on the incident. He said the US troops did not fire back in either incident.

“Our security is in sync with the Philippine military and police security here, so they have done that, they are providing us with security, wherever we are, they provide us with security,” Desany said.