COTABATO CITY–Two soldiers were killed and two others were injured in separate ambuscades here and in Sultan Kudarat province blamed by authorities to ISIS-linked elements.
At 5:30 a.m. Monday, gunmen believed to be members of the ISIS-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), ambushed and killed Army Corporal Nelson Pamalian of the 5th Special Forces Battalion based in this city.
Pamalian and Private First Class Richard Bendanillo, also of the Army’s Special Forces, were onboard a motorbike on their way to their detachment in Barangay Kalanganan when fired upon by riding-in-tandem gunmen.
“Witnesses said they were tailing the victims from the city’s public market and opened fire from behind when they reached an isolated road in Barangay Kalanganan,” said Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director.
The 5th Army Special Forces is currently helping local authorities secure several tributaries crisscrossing the city that are being used by lawless elements as entry and exit points.
Bendanillo, who sustained gunshot wounds in various parts of his body, is undergoing medication at a government hospital here.
Octavio said investigators are still confirming intelligence reports that the suspects belonged to a BIFF hit squad.
“The BIFF is among the possible suspects,” Octavio told reporters. “We are still investigating.”
On Sunday night, another soldier, Corporal Ruel Dordas of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion (IB) was killed after he and companion, Sgt. Julhaib Ajijul, was fired at while on their way back to their detachment. The duo had just completed a peacekeeping mission in a remote village of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.
Dordas died on the spot while Ajijul sustained injuries and brought by responding colleagues to a hospital in Tacurong City.
“I strongly condemn this dastardly act against our soldiers. We will strive hard to bring the suspects to the folds of the law,” Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, 33rd IB commander, said. (Noel Punzalan and Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
