FIVE members of the elite Army Scout Rangers were wounded on Monday in Sumisip, Basilan in attacks that were blamed on the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Quoting a report from the Special Operations Task Force-Basilan, Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said the bombs were detonated by the bandits.

Parlade said the first bomb was set off by the ASG at around 8:40 a.m. at Baiwas village and wounded three members of the 13th Scout Ranger Company led by Capt. Joey Magundayao.

The wounded soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Dennis Espanola, Pfc Louie Orina and Pfc Jonard Olivar.

Seven hours later, another bomb explosion injured two soldiers belonging to the 11th Scout Ranger Company led by Capt. Rholie Villaluna while the unit was patrolling Bohe Piyat village in Sumisip.

“We were tracking the remnants of the bandit group towards the southern portion of Mt. Abong-abong when my soldier tripped a wire, triggering an explosion. Two of my leading elements sustained minor injuries namely Pfc Al James Retubado and Pfc Joelbert Buna,” said Villaluna.

A UH1H Huey rescue helicopter, escorted by two MD MG 520 attack helicopters, was dispatched to evacuate the wounded soldiers to Camp Navarro Hospital in Zamboanga City.

The soldiers belonging to the Special Operations Command of the Army are continuously pursuing a small group of the bandits responsible for the series of kidnappings in Basilan.

Aside from its combat-rescue missions, the Socom forces are also heavily involved in the development projects aimed at helping the impoverished communities where bandits are making abductions as a money-making racket. --Rene Acosta