2 injured by speeding US soldier in Basilan road mishap

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—A village councilor in Albarka, Basilan, and his younger brother were in critical condition after they were hit by a speeding pickup truck driven by an American soldier in Lamitan City on Wednesday morning, police said.

But a US military official said it was the motorcycle that hit the US truck.

Chief Inspector Edwin Placio, Lamitan City police chief, said the victims, Junaidin Mallatin, 19, a member of the village council in Kuh Lenuh,  and his brother Nadzmir, 14, were riding  tandem on a motorbike when they were sideswiped by a pickup truck being driven by Sergeant Joseph Brown in the village of Sengal in Lamitan.

“American soldiers under Balikatan hit a motorbike that left two civilians seriously wounded,” Placio said.

Senior Police Officer 4 Ambruga Kalbi, investigator of the Lamitan City police office, said residents of Sengal informed them about the accident.

“We rushed to the area and we found the two young males sprawled on the road,” Kalbi told the Inquirer by phone.

He said witnesses told police investigators that they saw three vehicles bearing American soldiers running at high speed toward  Isabela City prior to the accident.

Kalbi said one of the vehicles, bearing license plates MIL-025 and  driven by Brown, overtook a bus and encroached on the lane intended for motorcycles.

“When the driver overtook the bus, he narrowly missed the first motorbike, which fell into a ditch. But the pickup driver hit the next motorbike, being driven by Mallatin,” he said.

Kalbi said because of the impact, the Mallatin bothers were thrown several meters away from their motorbike.

He said Brown refused to be detained and also rejected police efforts to impound his vehicle.

Kalbi said a charge  of  reckless imprudence resulting in double serious physical injuries was being prepared against the US soldier.

He said the victims were initially taken to the Alano Memorial Hospital in Lamitan City but they had to be transferred to the Ciudad Medical in Zamboanga City due to the seriousness of their injuries.

Kalbi said the elder Mallatin had already opened his eyes based on latest report but Nadzmir remained unconscious as of Thursday.

Major Christopher Andersen, public affairs officer of the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines based here, said contrary to the information released by the police, it was the motorcycle which hit Brown’s vehicle.

“A motorbike carrying a driver and passenger hit an SUV carrying the US military personnel,” Andersen said in a text message to the Inquirer.

He also said that when the accident occurred, US forces on the scene “rendered first-aid assistance to the injured local males.”

Andersen also denied that Brown refused to cooperate with the police.

“This is an unfortunate accident. The US personnel extend their sympathies to those injured, hopes and prayers for their speedy recovery. US forces are cooperating fully with local police in their investigation,” he said.