Google map of Lamitan City, Basilan province. ZAMBOANGA CITY - Armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) clashed in Lamitan City, Basilan province on Tuesday, sending several residents fleeing to safety. Brigadier Gen. Domingo Gobway, the Army's 101st Infantry Brigade commander, said the clash that transpired in Barangay Parangbasak stemmed from a shooting incident that resulted in the death of an MNLF member. Gobway said Shein Docol, 20, a resident of Barangay Parangbasak and affiliated with the MNLF, was shot and killed around 7:30 a.m. by armed men who are allegedly affiliated with the MILF. Gobway said the clash broke out several minutes after the shooting incident as MILF members led by Rajan Abdurahman and MNLF gunmen under Usong Ugong crossed paths at the crime scene. No one was either killed or wounded during the brief firefight between the group of Abdurahman and Ugong, he added. Lt. Col. Arlan Delumpines, Lamitan C
Google map of Lamitan City, Basilan. LAMITAN CITY, Basilan - A bomb courier formerly identified with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed and another suspect escaped in a shootout with government troops in this city, military officials said Thursday. Brigadier Gen. Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander, said Adil Akarab was killed in a shootout with the troops late Wednesday in Barangay Sabong here. Lt. Col. Cyril Santander, 18th Infantry Battalion commander, said the Akarab had joined with a group of lawless elements after his stint with the Basilan-based terrorist group. Prior to the shootout, Gobway said soldiers received information that two lawless elements will be transporting an improvised explosive device (IED) from Tipo-Tipo municipality to this city. "Upon receiving the report, all checkpoints were advised to conduct intensified checkpoint operation," Gobway said. He said the shootout broke out after the troops cornered the suspects in a pursuit
Google map of Lamitan City, Basiland Island province. ZAMBOANGA CITY - An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded late Monday in front of Lamitan City Hall in Basilan, the military said. Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander, said Tuesday no one was hurt in the explosion that occurred around 6:30 p.m. near the exit area of the Lamitan City Hall front gate in Barangay Maganda. Gobway said the blast busted a water pipe and caused minor damage to the wall of the city hall. Investigation showed that minutes prior to the explosion, two unidentified persons riding in tandem on a motorcycle lobbed a bag containing the IED towards the compound of the city hall and sped off. Both the military and police have tightened security to prevent a repeat of the incident. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident, Gobway said. (PNA) }
Google map of Lamitan City, Basilan province. ZAMBOANGA CITY - The schools division office in Lamitan City, Basilan province is undertaking the necessary preparations to ensure the orderly conduct of the May 9 national and local elections. Myra Mangkabung, superintendent of Lamitan Schools Division, said Wednesday the teachers tasked to render election duty would undergo training next week on how to operate the vote-counting machine (VCM). "We just finished the conduct of orientation of the teachers about election protocols," Mangkabung said in an interview. Nearly 300 teachers have been tasked to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) and poll clerks for the polls in Lamitan City, she said. "All those who will be serving the election are vaccinated," she added. However, Mangkabung said one of the big challenges they expect to face on election day is Internet connectivity, as most of the precincts in Lamitan City are off-grid. Another problem, she pointed out,
Google map of Lamitan City, Basilan ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have surrendered with the support of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Basilan province, military officials announced Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander, said the good rapport between the military and the MILF in Basilan led to the surrender of ASG members Jaid Balatong, 40; and Abdul Munib, 25. "The MILF is actively supporting the military's campaign against terrorism by convincing the remaining members of the (ASG) terror groups to surrender," Gobway said. Balatong, of Al-Barka II municipality, is a follower of Abdullah Indanan, while Munib of Tipo-Tipo town is under the group of ASG leader Furuji Indama. Gobway said Balatong and Munib surrendered and turned over an M16 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol Monday afternoon to troopers of the Army's 68th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Campo Uno, Lamitan City, Basilan. He said fi