An army official and his soldier, 2 ASG were killed and wounding several others in a new clash in Basilan

By Jong Cadion

KUTA SANG-AN, LABANGAN, ZAMBOSUR – Two (2) government troops including Major Alin S Kannung were reported killed and wounding of three (3) others on the government side while two (2) ASG members were slain identified as aka Mingkong and aka Mardan Sapili and three (3) others were wounded in am encounter yesterday afternoon in Basilan province.

With the desire to improve the lives of the people of Albarka, Basilan, the 18^th Infantry Battalion while on their way to distribute livelihood package to the residents of Brgy Bohe Piang, Albarka, Basilan Province encountered more or less 70 Abu Sayyaf members at Barangay Magcawa, Tipo-tipo, BP around 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon on May 6, 2013 leaving two (2) ASG dead and three (3) others were wounded.

Based on the reports from the ground units, personnel from 18IB led by Lt Col  CJ Paolo P Perez with Maj Alin S Kannung while on their way from Brgy Unkaya Pukan, Basilan going to Brgy Bohe Piyang, Albarka, Basilan to distribute livestock as livelihood to the residents, encountered more or less 70 ASG members led by Nurhasad Jamiri and Isnilon Hapilon along the road in So Pagtawanan, Barangay Magcawa, Tipo-tipo, Basilan Province.

The wounded soldiers were brought to 18IB Headquarters at Unkaya Pukan, BP and subsequently air lifted to WESMINCOM Hospital in Zamboanga City for proper medication.

 

According to Lt Col Perez, Maj Kannung, the Executive Officer of 32^nd Infantry Battalion, who happened to be from Albarka, Basilan, and his group, while en route to their place of engagement, noticed the presence of suspicious armed men along the road. Without delay, Maj Kannung together with his men disembarked from their vehicle and immediately engaged the enemy positioned at a high ground. While giving orders to his men to maneuver, Maj Kannung was hit by sniper bullet from the enemy.

His early detection of the presence of the enemy and his bravery in the face of the enemy fire, Maj Kannung was able to save the lives of his companions, Lt Col Perez said

Major Alin S Kannung was a former Commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under the name of Commander Blossom operating in the Island of Basilan before he entered in the Military service in June 1997 under the Integration Program as part of the 1996 GRP and MNLF peace agreement.

Maj Kannung was a member of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Officer Candidate Course Class 18-1997.