View source for Camp Abelon attacked on March 12, 1973

*Source:http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/opinions/22389-camp-abelon-attacked-on-march-12-1973.html
*Thursday, March 17, 2016
:By Rex Miravite

The Headquarters of the defunct 461st PC Company in Pagadian City was almost overrun when the MNLF rebels launched an offensive in Zamboanga Peninsula that signaled the outbreak of rebellion in the entire Mindanao.

A disgruntled PC Officer led the attack at Camp Abelon on March 12, 1973.

PC 1st Lt. Maulana Pakilul was the officer of the day at the time where he was responsible for the security of the camp.

Members of the guard did not notice any sign of unusual behavior of the officer.

At dawn of March 12 the bulk of the MNLF attacking force concentrated at the back of the camp from the cemetery.

A retired master sergeant former chief Clerk of the command noticed the movement of armed suspicious individuals at his backyard.

Retired 2nd Lt. Benjamin Galindo conscious of camp defense security fired his carbine rifle successively into the air.

The warming shots which represent an emergency situation awakened soldiers sleeping inside the barracks and took their respectively posts embodied in the camp defense plan.

Heavy exchange of fire ensued in the partially surrounded camp.

The quarters of the Prov’l Comdr was pulverized with M-79 rockets.

Fortunately Lt. Col. Roberto Abad was in Zamboanga City.

Major Orlando Sienes, the Asst. Prov’l Comdr, managed to lead the successful defense of the camp.

Before daybreak the MNLF rebels withdrew towards Labangan town and took refuge at the concrete rice bodega of SY KOC TIONG rice mill.

No casualty was reported on gov’t side except the son of a PC Officer who was killed in a cross fire.

The rebels were eventually driven out of Labangan town after heavy bombardment by the air force and army rangers counter attack under major Lansang, the company comdr of the army rangers, who was killed during the encounter.

Camp Abelon in Pagadian City was almost captured by the MNLF rebels 43 years ago.

(The author was the commanding officer of 464th PC Company in Lamitan, Basilan during the period when MNLF rebels also attacked Campo UNO, Lamitan on 31 December 1972 to 2 January 1973 but repelled by the AFP and the Police.)