ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 31, 2014) – A Special Forces commander, who was wounded in clash with Abu Sayyaf militants in the troubled Basilan province in southern Philippines, had died before dawn Sunday while being airlifted to hospital in Zamboanga City, officials said.
Officials said Captain Mark Gamboa, of the 14th Special Forces Company, clashed at around 7 p.m. on Saturday with militants led by Halang alias Commander Jeck in the village of Calusugan in Lantawan town.
The fighting lasted only 10 minutes and it was unknown if there were enemy casualties. Gamboa was hit in the arm by a bullet that penetrated his body organs.
Soldiers, who reinforced the officer’s unit an hour later, brought him to the army headquarters in Isabela City where US troops provided him first aid while waiting for a helicopter to transport Gamboa to Zamboanga City.
Gamboa was airlifted shortly midnight to the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, but died before reaching the military hospital there. The Western Mindanao Command did not release any statement about the fighting and the death of Gamboa.
US troops were training Filipino soldiers in anti-terrorism warfare in southern Philippines, including Basilan, one of five provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, since 2002. (With a report from Ely Dumaboc.)
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