Basilan execs deny lockdown amid heightened security

PAGADIAN CITY—The Armed Forces of the Philippines has intensified security measures in Basilan following the recent ambushes that wounded about two dozen soldiers, as officials denied imposing a lockdown in the province following the attacks against military personnel in the area.

Army Brig. Gen. Frederick Sales, commander of the Army’s 1101st Infantry Brigade, said that security forces have intensified operations across Basilan to track down and bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice.

In particular, he revealed that soldiers have been deployed round-the-clock to ensure security at the main highway connecting Lamitan City and Sumisip town.

Sales assured the public that government forces are utilizing all available resources to neutralize the Saddam Siddick group, which authorities blamed for the recent ambushes.

In June last year, Basilan, an island province within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, was declared free from the threat and presence of the Abu Sayyaf Group, a terror organization engaged in banditry and kidnap-for-ransom activities.

Targets

The latest ambushes targeted members of the 45th Infantry Battalion, occurring on Oct. 5 in Tipo-Tipo town and on Oct. 8 in Lamitan City.

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Thirteen soldiers were wounded in the Oct. 5 ambush. In the Oct. 8 attack, a soldier was killed and 11 others were wounded, including two civilians.

“There’s no lockdown here … Things are operating normally in the entire province of Basilan. The reports of a lockdown are fake news,” Sales told the Inquirer in a text message.

Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman also debunked that a lockdown was imposed across the province.