FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – An unidentified group of lawless elements staged a deadly ambush in Sumisip town, Basilan killing five civilians at 6 a.m. today, July 11.

The report submitted by the Army's 104th Infantry Brigade stated that civilian workers of Tumajubong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Integrated Development Cooperative (TARBIDC) were enroute to the rubber plantation on board 4 civilian trucks when they were waylaid by at least ten heavily armed men while traversing the Basilan Circumferential Road in Brgy. Sapah Bulak.

The Special CAFGU Active Auxiliary (SCAA) members who escorted the civilian workers managed to return fire, forcing the lawless elements to retreat in different directions with their own casualties.

The civilian casualties were identified as Dante Binondo, Larry Mangaran Sr, Bonifacio Estequia, Albert Parang and Loreto Jeneney Jr. An unnamed militiaman was also killed, bringing the number of dead to 6.

The report also stated that 20 civilians and two CAFGUs were wounded in the encounter. CAFGU casualties were identified as Leo Pacure and Adjad Lidjaman.

Col Arthur P Ang, the Commander of the 104th Brigade, has sent more soldiers to help in evacuating the casualties and pursue the perpetrators.

This is the second time this year that lawless elements attacked the workers of the rubber plantation. It is believed that the refusal of the rubber planters to pay extortion money to the lawless elements was the motive of the crime.