ALG attempts to disrupt joint MEDCAP of LGU Tuburan & soldiers

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 5, 2017) - An armed lawless group tried to disrupt the conduct of a joint Medical/Dental activity of the Local Government of Tuburan and the soldiers of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion before noontime yesterday (Feb. 4) thru an IED explosion in the nearby province of Basilan, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer CPT. JO-ANN D. PETINGLAY disclosed that after hearing the blast, soldiers of the Ranger Battalion immediately proceeded to the area and requested for an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to scour the site and to investigate, however while doing so, a second bomb exploded a few meters away from the first explosion site.

Wounded in the explosion was one of the rangers involved in the clearing operation and the driver of Tuburan Mayor Dorie Kallahal, who was then in the area to personally check on the incident, Petinglay said.

At 3PM, the EOD team was able to recover 2 pcs of improvised circuit; 1 pc TVT handheld radio; 2 pcs 9 volts batteries; and about 20 meters electric wire, and declared the area clear of another possible explosion, Petinglay added.

MGEN CARLITO G GALVEZ AFP, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command urged the locals to rigorously report to authorities suspected individuals and activities within their communities. "Kailangan ng ating mga mamamayan na maging maingat at maging mapagmatyag sa ano mang kakaibang aktibidad na nakikita nila sa kanilang komunidad, sapagkat ang mga masasamang elemento ay naghahanap lang din ng pagkakataong maisagawa ang mga gawain na makakaapekto sa kapayapaan at sa mga adhikain ng Gobyerno," he said.

Despite the intent to hamper the activity, residents were still able to avail of the services provided during the MEDCAP since the activity was not stopped despite the explosion.

The MEDCAP benefitted more than 500 residents from the different sitios of Tuburan municipality whose Mayor Hon Dorie Kallahal is very active on peace efforts especially in the delivery of goods and services to her people.