MILF, military give conflicting accounts of deadly Basilan ambush

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The MILF attributes the attack to poor communication, while the military maintains that proper procedures were followed

COTABATO, Philippines – The deadly ambush in Sumisip, Basilan, on Wednesday, January 22, has led to conflicting accounts on coordination between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and government security forces. The MILF has blamed the attack on poor communication, while the military maintained that proper procedures were followed.

The attack left at least four dead and 12 soldiers wounded during a military operation to secure a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team working on a peace initiative in Barangay Lower Cabengbeng in Sumisip.

Anwar Alamada, head of the MILF-Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), told Cotabato City-based DXMS Radyo Bida on Thursday, January 23, that the confrontation was due to lack of coordination. He claimed that MILF’s 114th Base Command was not informed about the military’s operation.

Alamada asserted that the military entered the area without coordination, as he stressed the importance of following the ceasefire agreement which mandates clear communication between MILF and military forces.

In an earlier statement, however, Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade, said the military operation had been coordinated with the MILF’s monitoring committee. 

The military said an armed group, allegedly led by Najal Buena and Oman Hajal Jalis, ambushed the soldiers. It also accused some MILF members of supporting the group of Buena and Jalis and taking part in the attack.

The conflicting narratives raised concerns about the peace process, particularly in Basilan, a part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

BARMM was established in 2019 based on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). The law, which came after years of peace talks between the government and the MILF, replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The region’s creation has been seen as an important step toward lasting peace in Mindanao and addressing the region’s historical grievances.

BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, the leader of the MILF, said the regional government was “deeply saddened by the unfortunate encounter” given that it happened at a time when they started celebrating the 6th foundation anniversary of the autonomous region. Ironically, he said, the period “symbolizes unity, peace, and progress.”

Ebrahim said, “We urge all parties to remain calm as we work towards addressing this incident through appropriate channels.” 

He said established mechanisms within the peace process — specifically, the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) — as the most effective platforms to investigate the incident and work toward a resolution.

Basilan Governor Jim Hataman Salliman said the incident should not be allowed to undermine the peace process, and called on the military and MILF to address “shortcomings.”

“Dapat both sides are sincere, at tanggapin kung ano man ang mga weaknesses, and to respect the results of the investigation. Ituloy pa rin ang lahat ng initiatives on the ground,” he said.

(Both sides should be sincere, accept whatever weaknesses there may be, and respect the results of the investigation. All initiatives on the ground should continue.)

Meanwhile, Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. flew to Basilan on Thursday to oversee the military’s response and coordinate with local security forces. He and Salliman met to discuss the situation in Basilan.

Brawner’s first stop was the Army headquarters in Isabela City, where he presided a command conference with senior military officials. The meeting focused on operational updates, reinforcements, and strategies for dealing with ongoing security threats in the region.

He also visited the soldiers being treated in Basilan and Zamboanga City, and awarded them medals and gave them financial aid. – Rappler.com