MANILA, Philippines - An Army corporal was killed by a landmine explosion that ripped through a military convoy in Sumisip town, Basilan province, Tuesday morning.
The Basilan Police Provincial Office identified the slain soldier as Corporal Bryan Ansing, member of the Philippine Army's 32nd Infantry Battalion (IB).
Ansing and several members of the 3nd IB were on board an armored tank and a military truck when they were hit by the blast at the boundary of Barangays Libug and Cabcaban around 11 a.m.
At least 8 more soldiers were hurt in the blast.
Police said the soldiers were on their way to Barangay Upper Mahayahay in Maluso town to check the reported sightings of 2 kidnap victims, Chinese nationals Michael Tan and Oscar Lu.
Eight more soldiers were hurt by the blast. They were immediately airlifted to a military hospital in Zamboanga City. With reports from Leila Vicente, ABS-CBN Zamboanga and Noel Alamar, radio dzMM