Basilan Province — Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace mechanisms conducted a joint field verification in Tuburan, Basilan, on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, to investigate an alleged ceasefire violation stemming from an ambush incident earlier this year.
At around 7:50 a.m., Police Major General Ronaldo C. Bayting, Chairperson of the GPH-AHJAG/DC APC-WM, together with Brigadier General Patricio Ruben P. Amata, Chairperson of the GPH-CCCH, led the government delegation composed of members of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). They were warmly received by Police Colonel Cerrazid A. Umabong, Basilan Provincial Police Director, along with counterparts from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The joint mission, carried out in close coordination with Tuburan Mayor Durie Kallahal, was prompted by a protest letter concerning the April 11, 2025, ambush in Barangay Dugaa, Tuburan, which claimed the lives of two soldiers from the 18th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army.
By 10:00 a.m., the team proceeded to the ambush site in Barangay Dugaa, where they conducted a walkthrough inspection and assessment of the area. The verification activity concluded at around 10:45 a.m., with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to peace and conflict resolution.
Officials underscored that the collaborative effort serves as a demonstration of the continuing partnership between the Government of the Philippines (GPH), the MILF, the PNP, the AFP, and local leaders in ensuring that the ceasefire agreement remains in place and disputes are resolved through dialogue and cooperation.