Lamitan City, Basilan – Three operatives of the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) were killed in a brutal ambush on Monday night in Barangay Baimbing, Lamitan City, Basilan. The incident occurred when unidentified armed men opened fire on the soldiers, who were traveling in a plateless van along a secluded road in the area.
Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry “Three Red Arrows” Brigade, inspected the crime scene and the bullet-riddled van on Tuesday morning. The attack left all the occupants of the vehicle dead. According to initial reports, the ISAFP operatives were conducting intelligence work in the area prior to the ambush.
Witnesses claimed that the van had been spotted earlier in the day, repeatedly passing through the area, raising suspicions among local residents. Some of the bystanders at the scene reported that the soldiers appeared to have been carrying handcuffs, further indicating that they were part of a military intelligence unit.
“We are currently investigating the incident to determine the motives behind this attack and identify the perpetrators,” stated Brig. Gen. Luzon. Authorities are also looking into reports that the van’s movements might have alerted potential attackers.
The attack has raised concerns over the security situation in Basilan, a province that has experienced a history of armed violence and insurgent activity. The military has vowed to bring the assailants to justice and to intensify security operations in the area to prevent similar incidents.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the ambush. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating to gather more evidence and information about the suspects involved in the deadly attack.