175 ASG rebels neutralized in 2 1/2 years - AFP

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 16): 175 ASG rebels neutralized in 2 1/2 years - AFP

Government efforts against threat groups, especially in Mindanao,  continue to make strides with 175 members of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) neutralized in a span of two-and-a-half years, military records show.

"To date the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has (been) able to neutralize 175 (ASG) personalities and gained 69 firearms since the implementation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan  (IPSP) Bayanihan," stated a military briefing paper.

The AFP briefing paper also stated that during the said period, the military was able to preempt 25 IED (improvised explosive device) attacks, while cases were also filed in court against 26 ASG personalities.

On the 175 ASG personalities neutralized, officials said this means they were either killed, captured, apprehended, or surrendered during massive military operations against the bandit group.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, the AFP-Public Affairs Office chief, said the neutralization of 175 ASG men indicates the military is on track in achieving stability in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu, which are known operating areas of the terrorist group.

“The neutralization ensures that we are a step closer to having a secured environment in the region especially in Sulu and Baislan area,” said Zagala.

“Their neutralization is an assurance that we’re headed to a more secure and stable security environment,” he added.

From a peak of about 1,200 in 2000, the military estimates the current strength of the ASG to be around 385.

"Our timeline for the Abu Sayyaf is to defeat them at the soonest possible time. They are priority,” according to the AFP-PAO chief.

The military said that since implementation of IPSP "Bayanihan" in January 2011, government forces have been able to limit the ASG's capability to conduct violent acts  against civilians and communities.

At present, the AFP said the ASG's semi-autonomous sub-groups' operations and activities are mostly confined  in some municipalities of  Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga City, and Tawi-Tawi.

ASG, also known is described as the "smallest and most radical of the Islamic separatist groups operating in the southern Philippines."

It split from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1991 under the leadership of Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani, who was killed in a clash with government forces on December 18, 1998.

Among the activities of the Abu Sayyaf are bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and extortion.

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