ZAMBOANGA CITY— Two government employees were killed while two others were wounded in an ambush staged by the Abu Sayyaf bandits along the circumferential road in Basilan province, officials reported Wednesday.
Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade commander, disclosed that the ambush happened at around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay Baas, Lamitan City, Basilan.
Supt. Christopher Panapan, Lamitan City police officer-in-charge, identified the fatalities as Basit Daimun and Ahzhar Dakis, both truck mixer operators of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM).
Wounded were Mitoy Estajal and Abdul Sarabin, also employees of the DPWH-ARMM.
Investigation showed the victims were aboard a dump truck traveling to Lamitan City coming from Ungkaya Pukan town when the Abu Sayyaf bandits attacked them.
The dump truck, which veered to the sideof the road, was also damaged during the ambush.
Panapan said the motive of the ambush was extortion.
Soler Undug, DPWH-ARMM Basilan district head, revealed the Abu Sayyaf bandits had threatened to harm the DPWH-ARMM workers if and when they would not give in to their demands.
Uy said the bandits fled towards northeast direction after they ambush the dump truck of the DPWH-ARMM.
Uy said troops were deployed to track down the bandits. (PNA)
