At least 12 people were killed and 10 others wounded when more than 50 heavily armed men raided Saturday morning a local community in the conflict-torn Basilan, officials said.

Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, acting director of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said the fatalities include two children aged one and nine.

He added that the attack was carried out at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday in Barangay Tubigan in Maluso town, adding that the gunmen suddenly appeared in the area and started harassing the local residents.

The Army said the attackers broke into three groups led by Dic Alaw, Omar Alaw, and Dadi Moro when they attacked the civilian community which is about two kilometers from a military detachment. But the military could not ascertain from what group the three leaders belong.

However, they said Abu Sayyaf leaders who joined the attack were identified as Abugao Bayali and Amir Minco.

“We believe the attackers are combined members of ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) and MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front),” said Latag in a phone interview.

But he added that the MILF attackers could be members of the lost command and were joined by Basilan-based ASG members led by Puruji Indama. Three others ASG sub-commanders were identified as a certain Dick, Usman Alao, and a certain Iradi.

“They burned several houses. A CAFGU (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit) and 12 other civilians were killed as a result of the attack,” said Latag.

He identified some of the fatalities as Istilito Bacus, Benji Laping, Timhaar Arakani, a certain Rodel who is also known as Uding Pagdalian, John Laping, Salima Salapudin, Lorna Sahidda Salisa, 50-year-old Tawasil Idjiran, 32-year-old Abigail Bucoy, nine-year old Arjie Bucoy, and one-year-old Karen Bucoy.

At least three of the fatalities, including the two children, died when they were trapped inside one of the houses which was burned by the attackers.

Chief Inspector Edwin Placio, deputy chief of the Basilan Police, said at least nine other civilians were wounded in the attack.

“The gunmen actually attacked three areas here in Barangay Tubigan. We don't know yet why they did that,” said Placio in a separate phone interview.

Police said the attack might have been motivated by a grudge between the barangay captain of the area with one of the leaders of the attackers, the reason why the house of the son of barangay chairman, identified only as a certain, Lapping was among those burned.

“This area is populated by both Christians and Muslims. So it is not an attack against the Christians because there were also Muslim casualties,” said Placio.

“Pursuit operations are ongoing and led by police and Marines here, they fled towards the town of Sumisip so the operations are concentrated there and nearby areas,” he added.

Placio said the security situation in the areas raided is already normalized with the arrival of elite police and military forces.

First Lieutenant Steffani Cacho, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), said they are still conducting investigation as to the motive behind the attack.