Zambo crisis claims life of 3rd military officer 

(Updated 9:48 p.m.) A third military officer has died from gunshot wounds sustained during a clash with Moro National Liberation Front gunmen in Zamboanga City, as the crisis in the area entered its 16th day.

Since fighting broke out on Sept. 9, a total of 16 soldiers and policemen and 105 MNLF fighters have died in various clashes, according to Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, military information chief.

Army First Lieutenant Francis Damian of the 3rd Light Reaction Company succumbed to his wounds Tuesday morning, Army spokesperson Col. Randolph Cabangbang said in a text message to reporters.

 

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy class 2007, the 28-year-old Damian was wounded in an encounter with rebels in Barangay Santa Barbara on Monday. 

 

Damian is the third military officer killed as the crisis enters its third week, according to a report by Jun Veneracion on GMA News TV's Balitanghali.  

 

First Lieutenant John Christopher Rama of the Army's Light Reaction Team was the first military officer fatality, killed by sniper fire during clearing operations Thursday last week, on his wife's birthday.

 

On Monday, Army Second Lieutenant Florencio Mikael Meneses of the 7th Scout Ranger Company died of gunshot wounds sustained during clearing operations in Sta. Catalina.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Tuesday visited the 17 wounded soldiers in the hospital, according to a report at "24 Oras."

One military officer, First Lieutenant Carl Liwanag of the Second Light Reaction Company, vowed to return to the field after healing from a wound in the thigh.

"Nalulungkot po kami, pero gusto namin tapusin ang laban," he said in the "24 Oras" report.

The MNLF first entered the city on Sept. 9 to stake an independence bid there as they accused the government of sidelining a peace agreement it forged with the group in 1996. — with Marc Jayson Cayabyab/RSJ, GMA News