THREE soldiers and three alleged members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed in an encounter in Ungkaya Pukan in Basilan, the military said on Thursday, November 10, 2022.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Abdurasad Sirajan said the fatalities were from the 18th Infantry Battalion (IB).

He said seven more soldiers, six from the 64th IB and one from the 18th IB, were wounded in the clash.

Sirajan said members of the 18th IB were ambushed while they were on their way to “resupply” troops from the 64th IB who were engaged in a clash with alleged members of the MILF.

Joint Task Force-Basilan Commander Brigadier General Domingo Gobway said on Tuesday, November 8, MILF members and some of their cohorts fired at the troops of the 64th IB while their commander Lieutenant Colonel John Ferdinand Lazo tried to negotiate as they try to go to Barangay Ulitan.

Lazo allowed the MILF members to pass but told them not to bring their weapons.

Sirajan said MILF forces have already left the area.

“As of last night, actually mula pa noong night of Tuesday, iniimpose na ‘yung ceasefire pero meron pa ring skirmishes hanggang kahapon (Wednesday). Siguro may mga nagmamatigas galing sa side nila or hindi pa napaparating dun sa kanila. ‘Yung mensahe kasi unang-una, ‘yung ceasefire mechanism nahirapang tumawid kahit nandun na sya sa Basilan. Pangalawa, ‘yung signal, e, lahat ng area roon ay may signal ng kunti, pero as of last night wala na talaga,” said Sirajan.

(As of last night, actually, since the night of Tuesday, a ceasefire has been imposed, but there were still skirmishes until Wednesday. Some were stubborn or maybe the message did not reach them because first, the ceasefire mechanism was difficult to deliver even though they were already in Basilan. Second, the signal. All areas there have poor signal, but as of last night, there was none.)

Despite the clash, Sirajan said protecting the primacy of the peace process in the region remains.

“Hindi pwede ‘yung ganitong klaseng small incident ay maapektuhan ‘yung gains ng peace process, malaki na ‘yung gains e, nandyan na tayo sa governance,” he said.

(This kind of small incident can’t affect the gains of the peace process, the gains are already big, and we are already there in governance.)

He urged the MILF members to “abide by the arrangements” amid the government and MILF peace pact.

Western Mindanao Command acting commander Brigadier General Arturo Rojas said they are currently employing ceasefire mechanisms to pacify the situation which was triggered by “miscommunication.”

He said the local government of Basilan as well as the Bangsamoro government have undertaken actions to avoid the escalation of the situation.

In a statement, the government’s implementing panel for the peace accord with the MILF asked for the cooperation of the involved parties.

“We ask the cooperation of our partners from the MILF to stay the course and work together with the ceasefire mechanisms and government forces to uphold the ceasefire agreement which has been a product of arduous efforts from both parties in the interest of the welfare of our people and the preservation of the peace agreement,” the panel said. (SunStar Philippines)