Dutch hostage who joined Abu Sayyaf is killed in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A Dutch hostage of the Abu Sayyaf, who was reported to have joined the pro-ISIS group after developing Stockholm syndrome after 7 years in captivity, was killed during a firefight Friday in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.

A military photo shows two cadavers believed that of Dutch hostage Ewold Horn and Mingayan Sahiron, one of the wives of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron who were killed on May 31, 2019 during a firefight in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.

The fighting between militants and army soldiers erupted in Pansul village in Patikul town that also killed one of the wives of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. Eight other soldiers were also wounded in the battle, according to the military’s Western Mindanao Command.

It said Horn was reportedly shot by one of his captors while attempting to escape during the fighting. His body was recovered along with Mingayan Sahiron, who was slain in the clash that lasted over an hour.

“Horn was shot by one of his guards when he tried to escape from the Abu Sayyaf during this morning’s gunfight. After an hour and thirty minutes of gun battle, troops recovered the remains of Horn and that of Mingayan Sahiron, the second wife of the Abu Sayyaf top leader,” said Major Gen. Divino Pabayo, commander of an anti-terror task force in Sulu.

The military did not say if soldiers witnessed the killing of Horn or not. 

Pabayo, who described the fighting as ferocious, said six militants were allegedly killed and a dozen more injured, but it was unclear whether the casualties suffered by the Abu Sayyaf were based on intelligence reports as troops only recovered the bodies of Horn and Sahiron’s wife.

Horn, according to Sulu police commander Pablo Labra, had developed Stockholm syndrome, a condition which causes hostages to develop a psychological alliance with their captors as a survival strategy during captivity.

“We received information that he developed Stockholm syndrome and spotted carrying a weapon,” Labra told The Times on an interview just this month.

It was not immediately known whether Horn had fought security forces side by side with the Abu Sayyaf. “We really don't know if he had fought troops, but if he engages security forces and the lives of our troops are put in grave danger then we have no other recourse but to fight back,” Labra said.

Horn and Swiss wildlife photographer Lorenzo Vinciguerra were both captured by Abu Sayyaf militants under Hajan Sawadjaan and suspected Moro National Liberation Front members in the coastal village of Parangan in Tawi-Tawi’s Panglima Sugala town in February 2012. 

Vinciguerra managed to escape from his guards and recovered by soldiers in December 2014 after he allegedly killed one of his guards - Juhurim Hussien - with a bolo. (The Zamboanga Post)


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Sayyaf killed, soldier wounded in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Abu Sayyaf militant was reported killed and an army soldier wounded in a firefight in the town of Patikul in Sulu province in southern Philippines, the military said Monday.

The Western Mindanao Command said the weekend clash broke out in the village of Kan Ague between the pro-ISIS group and members of the 32^nd Infantry Battalion.

The fighting lasted 20 minutes with the military alleging that a militant was slain and that an army man had been injured. “A firefight ensued which lasted for 20 minutes after which enemy withdrew towards southeast direction. This resulted to the death of one ASG member and the slightly wounding of one soldier,” the military said.

It did not say whether troops recovered the slain militant or if the casualty report was based on intelligence report as it usually quote in many armed clashes in Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, all in the Muslim autonomous region.

The military said Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, has ordered an intensified campaign against the Abu Sayyaf to ensure peaceful elections next Monday.

“The Western Mindanao Command continuously conducts intensified military operations to deter the different threat groups from creating havoc. We are also intensifying our security preparations for the 2019 midterm elections next Monday,” Dela Vega said.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding several Filipino and foreign hostages in the troubled region. (The Zamboanga Post)

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Troops kill 4 Sayyafs in ferocious battle in Basilan

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Marines take down Sayyaf sub-commander

SULU – Marines killed an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander in a clash Tuesday on the southern Philippine island of Pata off Sulu province, the military said.

It said Hapidz Abdurahman, alias Jihad, clashed with soldiers who were trying to capture him alive. The slain militant leader had a string of criminal cases filed against him, including murder.

This was also confirmed by Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command. “The Abu Sayyaf suffered another setback with the death of another sub-commander. I commend our ground forces for exhibiting the same conviction and diligence,” he said.

Abdurahman was also buried by soldiers on the island. There was no report of military casualty in the fighting that lasted only 10 minutes. Dela Vega did not say if Abdurahman was alone on the island.
Soldiers also seized a boat and a rifle from the area, according to Dela Vega, who said the military operation against the pro-ISIS group is still continuing in the restive South.

“We are building up our focused and intelligence operations to pursue, pressure, and defeat Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu. While we are gaining a foothold with our persistent offensives, the military will continuously exert all efforts to reach out and work with the Suluanons to pave the way for peace and development in the province,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding several local and foreign hostages in Sulu. (The Zamboanga Post)

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Sayyaf Indon hostage dies, compatriot rescued by Filipino troops

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Indonesian hostage by the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf had died while his compatriot was rescued by Filipino soldiers during a firefight with militants on Simisa Island, about 30 nautical miles from the southern province of Sulu, officials said Saturday.

Officials said the 45-year Hariadin drowned while escaping from the fighting and his companion Heri Ardiansyah, 19, was recovered by soldiers. The duo along with Malaysian fisherman Jari Abdullah, 24, were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in December off Sabah and brought them to the forested island where security forces had been pursuing them since last month.

Abdullah was also recovered by soldiers on April 4 on the island following a firefight between security forces and militants.

“Troops from the Philippine Marine Ready Fleet Sulu rescued Indonesian captives Heri Ardiansyah and Hariadin after engaging three Abu Sayyaf militants under Najir Arik. Hariadin, however, died due to drowning.”

“The Joint Task Force Sulu said the engaged militants and the captives tried to swim across the channel towards Bangalao Island to escape from the pursuing troops when they were spotted by the roving sea patrols,” the Western Mindanao Command said.

It said 3 militants were killed by soldiers in the fighting and recovered their bodies and four automatic rifles and a grenade launcher. “The 10-minute gun battle further resulted in the deaths of three Abu Sayyaf militants and the seizure of several high-powered firearms, including two M14 rifles, two M16 rifles, and an M203 Grenade Launcher,” the military said.

The rescued Indonesian fisherman and the body of Hariadin were brought to the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City. Security forces continue with the hunt for militants under Najir Arik on Simisa, according to Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, the regional military commander. “Marine troops constrict Abu Sayyaf’s movement with the all-out offensives launched to pound terrorists on the island,” he said.

While the hunt for militants continue on the island, fierce fighting on Sulu’s Patikul town had killed 3 soldiers and wounded over a dozen more on Friday after the army clashed with at least 50 militants led by Hajan Sawadjaan.

The operation is still on going in the town’s hinterlands where the Abu Sayyaf fighters broke into smaller groups. The town is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner and The Zamboanga Post)

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Sayyaf militant killed, 2 cops wounded in Sulu fighting

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Security forces clashed Tuesday with pro-ISIS militant groups in the southern Philippine province of Sulu that killed an Abu Sayyaf fighter and wounded 2 policemen, officials said.

Officials said the fighting simultaneously erupted on Simisa Island off Banguingi town and in Patikul town. Philippine Marines killed one gunman in Simisa where troops had been pursuing since last month a group of Abu Sayyaf gunmen hiding on the forested island.

Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said members of the 3rd Marine Company, recovered the body of the still unidentified militant, including an M1 rifle, following a firefight that lasted about 15 minutes.

Dela Vega said there was no report of military casualties and he vowed to destroy the Abu Sayyaf. “The Joint Task Force Sulu continuously employ more pressure on the remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits to gain more enemy strongholds and armaments. We believe that a number of the bandits were wounded and probably could have died due to loss of blood after the encounter especially that our troops are still pursuing them as of this report,” he said.

But while vowing to finish off the militant group blamed for the series of ransom kidnappings of fishermen off Sabah in Malaysia and the spate of terror attacks, Dela Vega also called on Abu Sayyaf fighters to surrender peacefully. “While operations are vigorously undertaken to neutralize the remaining bandits, we still encourage other Abu Sayyaf members to lay down their arms in order to finally have peace in Sulu,” he said.

Security forces also clashed with Abu Sayyaf fighters in the village of Kan Ague in Patikul town. Two policemen were wounded in the fighting, according to Dela Vega.

He said soldiers and policemen were escorting a group of teachers when about 10 militants attacked them in the village, sparking a firefight. “The police personnel were escorting the teachers from Jolo town to the village of Taung, Patikul when they chanced upon the bandits. The exchange of fires resulted to the wounding of two policemen while casualties of the enemy side are yet to be determined,” Dela Vega said.

He did not say if any of the teachers were wounded in the firefight. The wounded policemen were rushed to hospital in the capital town of Jolo as security forces pursued the militants in Patikul’s hinterlands.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly dozen mostly Malaysian and Indonesian fishermen kidnapped for ransom off Sabah and has recently threatened to executive 3 captives if ransoms running into tens of millions of pesos are not paid by Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur. No deadline has been set for the execution of 2 Indonesians and a Malaysian fisherman. (The Zamboanga Post)

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8 Sayyafs yield in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Eight pro-ISIS militants have surrendered to the military as operations against the Abu Sayyaf continue in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, security officials said Monday.

Officials said the militants - Adsjar Hassan Sabdani, Jenyor Daihan Madjid, Araham Abdul, Delson Abdul, Jasim Uppih Umair, Nurhajir Amirol Patta, and Wilson Tatting Asid - also handed 6 rifles and a pistol when they surrendered over the weekend in Parang town.

Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the surrender of the gunmen was the result of the intensified campaign against the Abu Sayyaf. He said dozens of militants and their supporters had yielded to the military since last year.

“The series of capitulations is an offshoot of the no let-up campaign being launched by military troops to quell terrorism in its area of responsibility. With our sustained offensives, we anticipate that more Abu Sayyaf militants will heed the clamor for them to give up, rebuild their hopes, and work for peace with every Suluanon,” he said.

Dela Vega said the military operations will not stop until the Abu Sayyaf is destroyed as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte. “We will sustain pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf to ensure the safety of the people on the ground and that peace in their community will be achieved soon,” he said.

The militants, who were followers of Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Alhabsy Misaya, Sibih Pisih and Apoh Mike, surrendered to Col. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the 1101^st Infantry Brigade. The surrender was facilitated by the 2^nd Special Forces Battalion. Another Abu Sayyaf fighter, Misal Abdulwahid, a follower of militant leader Idang Susukan, also yielded to Nafarrete.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly a dozen mostly foreign hostages, mostly fishermen, kidnapped off Sabah. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Troops clashed with Sayyafs in South

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops clashed with Abu Sayyaf militants on the southern Philippine island of Simisa where security forces are hunting the pro-ISIS terror group, officials said Monday.

Citing intelligence report, officials claimed that 3 militants were killed in Sunday and Monday’s clashes, but soldiers failed to recover bodies of the slain gunmen. No soldiers were reported wounded or killed in the fighting on Simisa Island.

Marines were tracking down the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Najir Arik on the remote island when it ran into a band of militants, sparking gun battles in two sites.

“The exchange of fires that lasted for 5 minutes resulted to three enemies killed based on human intelligence, while no casualty was reported on the government side. Pursuit operation was immediately conducted to go after the fleeing bandits.”

“While conducting pursuit operation at 8:02 am today, troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 chanced upon the fleeing bandits few meters away from the first encounter site. Intermittent firefight lasted for about twenty minutes,” said Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, adding, the anti-terror Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf, whose leaders have pledged allegiance to ISIS.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly dozen mostly Malaysian and Indonesian fishermen kidnapped for ransom off Sabah and has recently threatened to executive 3 captives if ransoms running into tens of millions of pesos are not paid by Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur. No deadline has been set for the execution of 2 Indonesians and a Malaysian fisherman. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Special Forces slay Sayyaf commander in Sabah kidnappings

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Filipino Special Forces killed two pro-ISIS militants, including an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader, whose group had kidnapped 21 mostly European and Asian holidaymakers 19 years ago on the resort island of Sipadan off Sabah in Malaysia, security officials announced Wednesday.

Officials said Angah Ajid was slain late Tuesday afternoon during a combat operation against the notorious militant group in Upper Binuang village in Sulu’s Talipao town. The operations lasted only 10 minutes after several gunmen managed to escape the assault.

The military mounted the raid and utilized the 2^nd Special Forces Battalion to take down Ajid after civilians allegedly provided vital intelligence that led soldiers to an Abu Sayyaf hideout in the remote village. “Military troops followed the directions provided by residents and encountered five Abu Sayyaf members in the area. A 10-minute gun battle ensued, yielding to the deaths of sub-commander Ajid and another militant,” said Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, Jr., commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Sulu.

Pabayo said no soldiers were harmed in the operation and lauded the Special Forces for the slaying of Ajid, who was “the last remaining Abu Sayyaf leader involved in the Sipadan kidnapping in 2000.”

He said soldiers also recovered from the area one M14 rifle and an M16 automatic rifle with grenade launcher, including ammunition. He said the series of armed engagements in the province is the result of the growing support of the civilians to the military’s anti-terror campaign. “The people of Sulu are tired of the atrocities committed by the Abu Sayyaf in their communities,” Pabayo said.

In a separate statement, Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said: “The military continues to launch its offensives to neutralize Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu. Combat troops relentlessly pursue Abu Sayyaf militants and constrict their movement, leaving them in despair. As community support amassed, military mounts its offensives to pressure and to defeat Abu Sayyaf militants in the area.”

 “We are committed to end terrorism and to bring internal security in Mindanao. We also attribute our accomplishments to the Suluanons who are one with us in working for peace in the province,” he added.

The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly a dozen hostages, mostly seafarers and fishermen snatched off Sabah, and recently threatened to execute 2 Indonesians and a Malaysian national if their ransom demands running into millions of pesos are not paid. (Mindanao Examiner)

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5 dead, 3 soldiers missing in fierce fighting in Lanao Sur

COTABATO CITY – Three soldiers and two members of the pro-ISIS Maute group were killed in a vicious battle in southern Philippines, security officials confirmed Friday.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, the regional military commander, said three soldiers were also reported missing in the fighting which broke out late Thursday afternoon in the town of Tubaran in the troubled province of Lanao del Sur.

“Three soldiers died while three more are missing-in-action in yesterday’s gunfight. Troops transported the remains of slain soldiers to Iligan City for proper disposition. We console with the families of our departed comrades, who fought valiantly and paid the ultimate sacrifice. We lost not only brave warriors, but comrades who served the nation with such devotion,” Dela Vega said.

He said patrolling troops ran into a group of militants in the village of Dinaigan and fierce fighting erupted and lasted 90 minutes. He said troops recovered the bodies of the slain militants and two automatic rifles with a grenade launcher and rifle grenades, including an automatic pistol and ammunition. “We are more motivated to continue the fight against spoilers of peace and progress in Mindanao,” he said.

Dela Vega said security forces were advancing towards an area where militants were holding out in an effort to flush out and destroy them. “We are advancing upon the enemy target with deliberate offensives, hitting and inflicting heavy casualties on Maute fighters,” he said.

Security forces are currently fighting militants in several fronts in the neighboring Maguindanao province and on Wednesday, the military claimed to have killed nearly two dozen gunmen, including a Singaporean terrorist, Muhammad Ali Bin Abd Al Rahman alias Muawiya, a notorious jihadist belonging to the Indonesian Jemaah Islamiya and had been a bomb trainer for the Abu Sayyaf group.

The 6^th Infantry Division said the campaign, which began March 11, was aimed at destroying a huge group of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, whose leaders have pledged allegiance to ISIS. It said those killed in the fighting in Shariff Saydona town were followers of Abu Turaife. The reports were based on intelligence information, but army commanders claimed to have seen or recovered pieces of body parts of those killed in an area targeted by military bombardments.

Over 100 militants were being pursued by security forces in the province which is also a stronghold of the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014. The clashes also killed one soldier and wounded at least 7 more.

The military’s Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) said air, artillery and ground operation were continuing not only in Shariff Saydona, but also in the towns of Datu Salibo, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak where the group of pro-ISIS militant commander Salahudin Hassan was scattered.

The task force revealed that former BIFF members who surrendered to the military had provided intelligence that allowed security forces to track down the locations or hideouts of militants in the province.

“Former BIFF rebels who surrendered to JTFC also supported the information being relayed to locate the specific locations of the terror group.  Follow on operations ensured that the terrorists were confined in the area and prevented the spill over as our troops were deployed in the strategic areas,” it said, adding, the military also coordinated with the MILF to prevent any accidental clashes while troops were pursuing the BIFF in the towns.

Philippine authorities have blamed the BIFF and Maute for the series of terror attacks in the restive southern region. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Soldiers seized boat loaded with chemical used as IED ingredient

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Patrolling soldiers have intercepted a motorboat attempting to smuggle over three dozen bags of ammonium nitrate in Basilan province, a stronghold of pro-ISIS Abu Sayyaf group in southern Philippines, the military said Friday.

It said four people were taken into custody by the soldiers and being interrogated by the military. The chemical, which is banned in the Philippines, is usually used by rebels as a key ingredient in the manufacture of homemade bombs. It did not say how many kilos were seized from the four men, but each bag of ammonium nitrate typically is 25 kilos.

The military said the chemical originated from Siasi Island off Sulu province and heading to Basilan when members of the 83^rd and 84^th Inshore Boat Companies spotted and intercepted the boat and arrested its skipper and passengers. It was not immediately known whether those being held by the soldiers are members of the Abu Sayyaf or other rebel group operating in Basilan.

Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said those arrested will be handed over to the police so criminal charges can be filed against them. “Sailors and marines operate in maritime areas of Western Mindanao to curb smuggling and other illegal activities that affect the security and development in Mindanao,” he said.

Just last month, police also seized half a ton of ammonium nitrate following a sea chase off Zamboanga City that led to the capture of five men. A maritime police patrol spotted a suspicious boat off Taluksangay village on February 23 and gave chase after the vessel did not stop for security inspection.

The boat was eventually apprehended and its passengers arrested after policemen discovered its cargo of 20 bags of ammonium nitrate weighing 25 kilos each and had markings that showed it was made in South Korea by Huchems Fine Chemical Corporation. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Marines kill 7 Sayyaf fighters in South

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Seven pro-ISIS militants, including a sub-leader, were killed in ferocious battle between Philippine Marines and Abu Sayyaf in the southern island of Minis, officials announced Saturday.

Ten other people surrendered to soldiers, according to Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, adding, the fighting, which occurred Thursday, also killed a soldier and left 3 others wounded.

The Western Mindanao Command earlier said 3 militants were slain in the battle after troops clashed with about 50 Abu Sayyaf gunmen on the island off Sulu’s Patikul town.

Medina said members of the 62nd Marine Company under Colonel Armel Tolato responded to intelligence reports received from the military’s Joint Task Force Sulu on the presence of militants in the area. He said several vessels and a helicopter provided sea blockade and aerial support to ground troops, including elite members of the Special Operations Platoon 1 and a SEAL team.

“Sea denial is now being enforced by the Fleet-Marine team over the sea waters of Minis Island to avoid escape and enemy reinforcement while NAVSOU (Naval Special Operations Unit) and MARSOU (Marines Special Operations Unit) hunts down the Abu Sayyafs in the mangrove area of the island,” Medina said.

“The neutralization of the Abu Sayyafs was a result of the commitment and continued monitoring activity of the government troops in Western Mindanao. The public is assured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Fleet-Marine troops will continue to exercise vigilance in ZAMBASULTA (Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces) area to preempt any activities brought by the Abu Sayyaf group and other lawless terrorist groups that threatens the peace, stability and development in the area,” he added.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, the regional military commander, said he ordered security forces to intensify the offensives against the pro-ISIS group, who is holding several foreigners and Filipinos kidnapped in the South and in Sabah. “The Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf to neutralize the bandits. All measures are now being undertaken in accordance with the rules of engagement, and with the support of the local government and the populace,” he said.

Dela said they were saddened by the loss of a brave soldier. “We are deeply saddened by the news that another gallant soldier was killed during the encounter of our troops with the Abu Sayyafs bandits. Rest assured that we will extend all sorts of assistance to the bereaved family,” he said.

There were no reports if any of the hostages had been spotted on the island. (Mindanao Examiner)

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3 Sayyafs, soldier killed in Sulu clashes

SULU – Three Abu Sayyaf militants and a soldier were killed in fierce clashes before dawn Thursday on Minis Island off Sulu’s Patikul town in southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said two more soldiers were injured in the fighting after a group of marines sent to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf clashed with dozens of militants, sparking a battle on the island where the gunmen had been hiding.

By daybreak, troops recovered the bodies of the militants and two M14 rifles. The slain soldier, who name was not made public by the military, was taken by his companions to a military base in the capital town of Jolo. The wounded marines were evacuated to Camp Navarro General Hospital in Zamboanga City.

Army Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the militants were under Abu Sayyaf commander Majid Emamil. He said the soldiers, all members of the Philippine Marine Ready Force-Sulu, fought about 50 gunmen. “Heavy skirmishes ensued resulting in the killing of three enemies based on body count, while a soldier died and two other personnel incurred minor injuries,” Besana said.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, the regional military commander, has ordered security forces to intensify offensives against the pro-ISIS group, which is holding several foreigners and Filipinos kidnapped in the South and Sabah in Malaysia.

“The Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf to neutralize the bandits. All measures are now being undertaken in accordance with the rules of engagement, and with the support of the local government and the populace,” he said.

Dela said they were saddened by the loss of a brave soldier. “We are deeply saddened by the news that another gallant soldier was killed during the encounter of our troops with the Abu Sayyafs bandits. Rest assured that we will extend all sorts of assistance to the bereaved family,” he said.

There were no reports if any of the hostages had been spotted on the island. (Mindanao Examiner)


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6 Sayyaf fighters yield in Sulu

SULU – Six Abu Sayyaf fighters surrendered Monday to government troops in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, officials said.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the militants yielded to the 2^nd Special Forces Battalion under Lt. Col. Jessie Montoya in Talipao town.

They also handed over 6 rifles and were being interrogated at the army headquarters also in Talipao.
Besana identified the militants as Annuar Dalawis, Arsi Akili, Nassal Asaral, Alvarez Sadjan, Aysal Ajaral and Medzmar Mursin.

“They voluntarily surrendered through the efforts of the different community support program teams of the battalion,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, the regional military commander, lauded the troops for their efforts in convincing the militants to surrender peacefully as he urged other members of the Abu Sayyaf to return to the fold of the law.

“We hope that more bandits will decide to surrender instead of risking their lives and engaging themselves in deadly encounters with troops,” he said.

Five soldiers had died and over 2 dozen injured in recent clashes in Sulu’s Patikul town where a militant leader, Hajan Sawadjaan, is believed wounded in the battle. (Mindanao Examiner)

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4 soldiers wounded in Sayyaf clash in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Four soldiers, including an army officer, were wounded in fierce battle with Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu province in southern Philippines, officials said Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the fighting erupted in the village called Panglayahan in Patikul town. He said troops from the 32^nd Infantry Battalion clashed Monday afternoon with about 50 gunmen under Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron.

“Heavy skirmishes ensued which resulted to the wounding of an army officer and three soldiers, while heavy casualties were reported on the enemy's side based on human intelligence,” Besana said.
He said the wounded soldiers were evacuated to a military hospital in the capital town of Jolo. The identities and ranks of the casualties were not made public by Besana.

Soldiers recovered 50 kilos of rice, personal belongings with blood stains and assorted medicines from the Abu Sayyaf encampment.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said operations against the Abu Sayyaf will not stop until the militants have been neutralized. “The Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf to neutralize the remaining bandits,” he said.

Dela Vega also thanked the local government and civilians for providing intelligence to the military. “We extend our gratitude to the local government and the populace for helping troops in fighting terrorism by means of giving information, thus, making it easier for us to neutralize the outlaws,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf is fighting for a caliphate in the troubled region. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Military calls on pro-ISIS militants to surrender peacefully

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine military on Monday renewed its calls on pro-ISIS militants in the troubled southern region of Mindanao to return to the fold of the law and live peacefully with their family.

Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, made the calls following the recent surrender of two militants - Camal and Marcos Makalao - in Lanao del Sur’s Lumbatan town.
The duo also handed over their automatic rifle to Lt. Joseph Galapia, commander of Bravo Company of the 55^th Infantry Battalion in the village of Tambac.

“To the remaining members of the different threat groups, this is the best time for them to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law for the chance of living a peaceful life and a brighter future,” Dela Vega said.

He said the surrender of the militants, who are members of the Dawlah Islamiya, was the result of the military’s continuous implementation of community support programs in partnership with local governments and constant dialogue with the relatives of members of local terrorist groups in the region.

Last week, an 18-year old fighter of the Maute Group, Asnor, also surrendered to the 49^th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva in the town of Butig in Lanao del Sur.

Asnor confessed to have actively engaged in battling government troops in the province and told army interrogators that he was 14 when recruited by militant leader Abdullah Maute in 2014 along with a dozen children to fight for a separate Muslim homeland.

The fate of the young fighters was still unknown, but the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf fighters occupied Marawi City, the capital of Lanao del Sur, last year in an effort to declare a caliphate, but security forces battled militants numbering about 200 for five months ending the deadly siege. (Mindanao Examiner)


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Troops kill 2 Sayyafs, capture 2 more in Sulu clashes

SULU – Security forces killed 2 Abu Sayyaf militants in a fierce firefight Tuesday in the southern Filipino province of Sulu, officials said, adding, two other enemies had been wounded and captured in the battle in Panglima Estino town.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said no soldiers were killed or wounded in the clash that erupted in Lihbog Kabaw. He said soldiers from the 61^st, 62^nd, and 64^th Marine Companies clashed with some 100 militants under Radulan Sahiron, Idang Susukan, and Almujer Yadah.

“Troops were conducting focused military operation when they encountered the bandits. No casualty was listed on the government side while two enemies were killed based on recovered bodies, and two were also wounded. Recovered in the encounter site were one M653 and one M14 rifles,” he said.          

He said the wounded militants were brought to a military hospital in the capital town of Jolo while troops continue to hunt down Abu Sayyaf fighters who split in smaller groups and fled to the mountains.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said security forces have intensified the operation in Sulu to rid the province of Abu Sayyaf. “I commend the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu for the unrelenting efforts to eradicate the menace of society,” he said.

Authorities blamed the Abu Sayyaf, whose leaders have pledged allegiance with the Islamic State, for terrorism and cross-border ransom kidnappings in the South. The militants are still holding Filipino and foreign hostages in the region. (Mindanao Examiner)


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6 pro-ISIS fighters yield in Lanao Sur

PAGADIAN CITY – Security officials said Wednesday that 6 pro-ISIS militants have surrendered to municipal officials in the southern Filipino province of Lanao del Sur as the military continues its anti-terror campaign in the troubled region.

 

Capt. Clint Antipala, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said the militants - whose identities were not disclosed – surrendered to Mayor Jamel Kurangking, of Sultan Dumalungdong town. 

 

He said the militants, who took part in last year’s deadly siege of Marawi City, handed over a Barrett sniper rifle, three M79 grenade launchers and a Carbine rifle. 

 

They were eventually turned over to the 49th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva for interrogation. “Custodial debriefing still on-going,” Antipala said.

 

Last week, 3 militants also surrendered in Lanao del Sur’s Masiu town and they handed over an anti-tank rocket launcher and a .45-caliber pistol. Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, the division commander, has repeatedly urged pro-ISIS fighters to surrender peacefully. 

 

The militant group, along with other pro-ISIS fighters occupied Marawi and battled security forces for 5 months until their leaders and key commanders had been killed, but the military assault destroyed much of the city and displaced all residents there. Until now, government rehabilitation has been slow and residents continue to blame the government for Marawi’s destruction. (Mindanao Examiner)

 

 

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3 Sayyafs captured in Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Philippine Scout Rangers have captured 3 Abu Sayyaf militants after a gun battle in the southern town of Patikul, officials said Friday.

Officials said the militants Gafur Absari, Medzfar Mangabong and Madjid Mangabong were captured in Maligay village on Thursday. The militants were handed over to the 501^st Infantry Brigade where they would be interrogated and then turned over to the local police force.

Regional military commander, Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega praised the soldiers for the capture of the trio.

The capture of the pro-ISIS militants came a day after Abu Sayyaf released a kidnapped government militia, Rufo Roda, 62, in Jolo town near Patikul, in exchange for ransom from private negotiators. But his 64-year old wife, Helen, who was also seized along with the militia remains in captivity after the Abu Sayyaf demanded more money for her freedom.

The couple was seized by armed men on August 31 in Zamboanga del Norte’s Sirawai town. The gunmen also killed 6 people and wounded a minor.  (Mindanao Examiner)

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2 Sayyafs killed, 4 captured in Sulu

SULU – Security forces killed 2 Abu Sayyaf militants and captured four others in an operation in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, officials said Friday.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said policemen, backed by soldiers, launched the joint operation on October 10 in Kajatian village in Indanan town where they clashed with the militants that killed Hassan and Kemar Jade.

Troops also captured Lino Tantung, 42; Hamjir Sahidal, 19; Sajiyal Alamia, 46; and Arajal Aida, 46, and recovered a 12-gauge shotgun and two .45-caliber pistols and ammunition. They also seized suspected crystal meth from Sahidal.

“The operation is part of the intensified joint law enforcement by the Joint Task Force-Sulu and Sulu police forces in accordance with the war on drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte. This also forms part of the sustained effort of JTF-Sulu to get rid of banditry and violent extremist groups in the area,” Besana said.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, urged militants to peacefully surrender to the government. “Time again the government forces have given any terror groups two options – one is to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law; or fight and deal with the full force of the law,” he said. “The Joint Task Force-Sulu have convinced significant a number of Abu Sayyaf members who decided to surrender and now living a new life with their families.” (Mindanao Examiner)

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