SULU - The Philippine Army seized an Abu Sayyaf encampment on Tuesday as troops continue to hunt down members of the terrorist group, who engineered last month’s twin suicide bombings in Sulu province, officials said.
Brig. Gen. William Gonzales, commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Sulu, said members of the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Herbert Dilag, took control of the Abu Sayyaf hideout in the hinterlands of Indanan town.
Gonzales
said the encampment - which can accommodate at least 40 people - was being used
by terrorist leader Mundi Sawadjaan, who managed to escape.
“We
are employing the full force of Joint Task Force Sulu’s military assets to
track down the group of Mundi Sawadjaan. We are winning in our peace and
development campaign in the island of Sulu - in due time - the dwindling number
of the terror group will surely be decimated with the active cooperation and
support of the governor and municipal mayors,” Gonzales said.
Soldiers,
he added, also recovered personal belongings and provisions left behind by
fleeing militants. “The Joint Task Force Sulu’s pursuit operation following the
twin bombing in Jolo last August 24 are gaining tactical victories. It can be
recalled that Sawadjaan’s group was encountered by troops of 45th Infantry
Battalion in Patikul (town) last September 20 where the former suffered heavy
casualties.”
“At
this moment, pursuit military operations are still on-going utilizing all land,
sea, and air assets of the Joint Task Force. On the other hand, civil-military cooperation
is being undertaken in tandem with Sulu Governor Abdusakur M. Tan along with
the nineteen municipal mayors of the province. The Provincial and Municipal Task
Forces to End Local Armed Conflict are gaining headway in the implementation of
its peace and development programs for the community, as well as for the ASG
returnees,” Gonzales said.
Tan
and his mayors are strong supporters of the government peace and development
efforts in Sulu and actively involved in promoting President Rodrigo Duterte’s various
pro-poor programs in the province.
Gonzales
also honored and pinned medals to 2 soldiers - Staff
Sergeant Nelson Juaquin and Corporal Ferdinand Buenafe - who were wounded in a
recent clash with the Abu Sayyaf in Bungkaong village in Patikul town. The duo
is members of the 45th Infantry Battalion.
“I salute the two awardees. Your heroism continues to inspire your fellow soldiers in serving the people of Sulu. To all the units under JTF Sulu, let us maintain our peace and development initiatives in support to the local government units of Sulu. We are winning the peace in this province. I am optimistic that in the shortest span of time, the Abu Sayyaf terror problem will end with the help of the community,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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