In a recent incident in the southern Philippines, gunmen ambushed soldiers providing security for a United Nations livelihood initiative, resulting in the deaths of two service members and injuries to twelve others. The attack took place on Wednesday in Sumisip, a town within the Basilan province. According to military officials, this event led to a brief exchange of gunfire, during which two assailants were also killed.
The armed attack involved fighters believed to be affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, an Islamic rebel group that reached a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 2014. During the ambush, an army truck carrying the soldiers was targeted. Fortunately, there were no UNDP personnel in the vehicle at the time. The military reported that the soldiers retreated to avoid further confrontation, while the attackers set fire to the army truck.
In response to the attack, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, chief of the Philippine Army, emphasized the military’s commitment to work alongside local officials and law enforcement agencies to pursue justice for the fallen soldiers. Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to take appropriate actions against the members involved in the ambush, reiterating that the military will actively pursue the perpetrators.
Luzon highlighted that the participation of the insurgents in the attack is detrimental to the peace agreement’s objectives and poses a threat to the progress made towards the normalization of affairs in the region. He stated that “accountability is critical to maintaining trust and ensuring the integrity of the peace process.”
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, once the largest Muslim insurgent organization in the southern Philippines, had previously signed a peace accord with the government that established an autonomous region known as Bangsamoro. This agreement significantly reduced hostilities in the region and allowed former insurgent leaders to assume administrative roles within the new governmental framework, which includes Basilan province. The transition period is expected to culminate in elections for regional officials scheduled for May.
While thousands of Moro guerrillas have opted to disarm and reintegrate into society in exchange for livelihood packages, a substantial portion of the fighters remain armed, awaiting a lengthy “decommissioning process.” This term refers to the systematic surrender of their weapons. However, this process has been hampered by rising discontent among former rebels who claim they have not received the promised financial compensation and other incentives from the government.
