SUMISIP, BASILAN – October 23, 2025. A rubber tapper was killed after an explosion of still-unknown origin rocked the MARBEDCO Rubber Farm in Barangay Mangal, Sumisip, Basilan, early Thursday morning.
According to reports from the Sumisip Municipal Police Station (MPS), the explosion occurred at around 7:30 AM near one of the rubber trees where the victim, identified as John Roy Alvarez, was working. Alvarez, a resident of Barangay Mangal and a long-time rubber tapper at MARBEDCO, sustained severe injuries to his legs and other parts of his body.
He was immediately rushed by his co-workers to Basilan General Hospital in Isabela City but was declared dead upon arrival.
Hon. Muhaimin Undug, Barangay Chairman of Mangal, alerted the police about the incident. A rapid response team led by Police Captain Jakaria J. Muin, Chief of Police, and soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, quickly secured the area.
Initial findings indicate that the explosion might have come from an improvised explosive device (IED) or a landmine, although authorities have yet to confirm this. The Police Explosives and Canine Unit (PECU)-Basilan has been called in to conduct a thorough post-blast investigation.
MARBEDCO Chairman Jonas Dela Torre described Alvarez as a hardworking and respectful employee who had served the company for eight years.
“The loss of John Roy deeply saddens us. He was known for his dedication and good conduct,” Dela Torre said.
Authorities are investigating all possible angles, including whether Alvarez was the intended target or an innocent victim of a random or malicious act.
The Sumisip MPS and the Philippine Army continue to secure the perimeter as investigations progress.