By FRANK DOSDOS AND SITA ASEQUIA
Correspondents
ILIGAN City– Col. Gilbert Gapay visited his wounded men who were confined in a hospital in the city after they incountered an ambush that resulted them got wounded and injuires early morning the other day along the highway at Pantar, west of Lanao del Norte.
It was learned that soldiers were on their way to Iligan when they were ambushed by still unknown pepetrators.
In an interview with newsmen, Col. Gapay revealed that one of his men was killed in action while six others were wounded and now being treated at Mercy Community Hospital and Seventh Day Adventist Hospital.
He even said that Pfc. Joey Montallana of ZamboangaSibugay was slain in the ambush.
He also identified the wounded soldiers as Sgt.Nunesta andSgt.Silvano. Nunesta sustained a minor injury while Silvano was operated for multiple gunshot wounds on the lower right part of his abdomen.
Although still in the intensive care unit, Silvano is reported out of danger and now recuperating. Gapay said that all the other wounded soldiers are now recuperating from their injuries.
He added that the fatality will receive the usual honors accorded to soldiers killed in action in addition to the financial benefits that his family will receive from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Furthermore, he added that the family of the slain soldier will also receive the traditional cash contributions from his comrades in the service.
Gapay told newsmen that the Philippine National Police and the other concerned agencies are still investigating the case to determine the motive and the identities of the perpetrators.
He said that his troops were just performing their job of helping the public maintain peace and order while the GPH-MILF peace process is nearing its conclusion.
Thus, he said, he cannot think of any enemies that his elements have.
He also disclosed that charges are being readied against the driver of a new pick-up from whose occupants fired high caliber weapons at his men.
Two motor vehicles were abandoned by the ambushers during their withdrawal from the scene of the crime.
He opined that physical evidence found in the scene of the crime indicated that the ambushers fired their weapons from three directions – from both of the sloping sides of the road and from behind.
The attackers reportedly used Armalites, AK-47s and rifle grenades.
Gapay concluded that the investigators are exploring all possible motives including that of the soldiers being caught in between feuding families or Rido arising from partisan politics.
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