Manila, Jan. 23 -- The United Nations in the Philippines "strongly condemned" on Thursday the deadly ambush that killed two soldiers and wounded 12 others in Sumisip town, Basilan province on Jan. 22.

Despite the incident, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said the UN team will stay and continue delivering peace and development programs in the Bangsamoro region.

"I would like to express the United Nations' sympathies with those who were affected and their families," he said.

"In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the UN supports peacebuilding efforts of national, regional and local authorities. We have made significant progress. We will stay and deliver in BARMM," he added.

The incident occ...