Statement of Naval Public Affairs Office re-Firefight in Mohammad Ajul, Basilan

LIEUTENANT COLONEL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

Wednesday, 30 December 2009

Navy Seals and Marines in pursuit operations vs bandit Abu Sayyaf Kidnap Group and the remnants of Basilan Jailbreak clash with lawless elements group.

Firefight erupted between Navy troops and undetermined number of armed men 7:25pm, 29 December 2009 at Brgy Candiis, Mohammad Ajul, Basilan.

VADM FERDINAND S GOLEZ, Navy Chief condoles with the families of a Lieutenant Junior Grade and a Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) of the Navy Special Operations Unit 6 based in Naval Forces Western Mindanao were Killed-In-Action (KIA). A Seaman First Class (SN1) was wounded but now in stable condition in a military hospital.

Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, the commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command directed the extrication of casualties from the armed engagement site while the operation continues vs the group headed by Abu Sayyaf subleader Muntong Pula.

“We will be relentless in the pursuit operations even during the holiday. We have to get these convicts and terrorists and bring them to justice. There’s no reason for a revelry with them lurking in the hinterlands of Basilan.”

Lieutenant Colonel Edgard A Arevalo PN(M), Navy Spokesman.