Ex-MNLF troops now with Army will cut collateral damage in ASG pursuit

From the Business World (Oct 21): Ex-MNLF troops now with Army will cut collateral damage in ASG pursuit

PHILIPPINE ARMY troops who served the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have proven themselves to be “great” assets in the military’s pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Harold M. Cabunoc made these remarks yesterday, saying these troops will help the military avoid collateral damage especially in far-flung communities in the region.

“We are not supposed to cause collateral damage if there are skirmishes right inside these communities and that’s the reason why we also enlisted the help of these former MNLF rebels who are now in the Army to identify plain civilians because they know exactly who are those identified with the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.

“These communities are their camps which have houses and one of our challenges is when those bandits mix with innocent civilians,” Mr. Cabunoc said.

Rainfall also jeopardizes the reconnaissance team’s tracking operations in sparse jungles as well as in heavily wooded areas, he added.

As a result, Col. Allan R. Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, has yet to report any engagements between government troops and the rebels, Mr. Cabunoc said.

Mr. Arrojado has led efforts to run after and apprehend the bandit group since Friday last week, when the group released two German hostages.

Military intelligence indicates that the Abu Sayyaf is still holding 10 hostages in captivity, some of whom are foreigners abducted in different parts of the country or nearby areas.

Government troops has since seized three encampments of the bandit group since it began its law enforcement operation on Friday last week.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=ex-mnlf-troops-now-with-army-will-cut-collateral-damage-in-asg-pursuit&id=96477