The soldiers who clashed with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Talipao, Sulu last Friday were just going to observe the area upon orders of military chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Armed Forces public information chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said Monday.
In an interview with GMA News TV's "News To Go", Cabunoc said the platoon was in the area for reconnaissance, or to observe the area and gather information on the armed group's whereabouts and the location of the hostages.
The soldiers were not aware of the exact location of the group because they "are mobile," which led them to search "in their jungle hideouts," Cabunoc said.
"'Yung mismong pumasok doon sa area para mag-conduct ng tinatawag natin na reconnaissance ay small element, isang platoon," he said. "Ngunit sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, ang kanilang taguan ay may pumunta na mga bandido kaya agad-agad itong nakipagputukan sa kanila."
Cabunoc added: "Doon sa ginawa nilang pag-observe ng position ng mga bandido ay nakita nila na wala mismo doon sa location ng grupo na mismong nakaharap nila, five to 10 meters away, wala namang nakitang hostages. Ito ay ipinaabot nila agad sa kanilang batallion commander ... Sila ay nagplano ng isang mas maganda sanang pag-deploy ng mga tropa, bagkus sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon ay sila'y na-engage dahil sa muntik nang madiskubre ang mismong puwesto ng ating mga sundalo."
The troops were surrounded by around 300 members of the Abu Sayyaf, Cabunoc said, adding that it was a gathering of smaller groups from different barangays, and possibly some family members and friends who were pulled in to join.
They were having a celebration that day, probably because of a wedding, he added.
They were having a celebration that day, probably because of a wedding, he added.
Five soldiers were killed in the encounter on Friday afternoon, while 26 others were injured from the military side.
Cabunoc said, "Ang masasabi ko lang merong nataga sa kanila kasi napalibutan sila nitong mga bandido at itong iba sa mga bandido ay may hawak na itak habang sila ay nakikipagbarilan."
On the other hand, nine bandits, including sub-leader Hairullah Asbang, were killed, while 30 others were wounded. The group is under Radullan Sahiron, whom Cabunoc said is now just a "titular leader" given his age.
Sahiron, who was previously believed dead, was placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Most Wanted list in 2012 for "his alleged involvement in the 1993 kidnapping of an American in the Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf Group."
Marijuana plantation
In the same television interview, Cabunoc said one reason the bandits fought with them during the encounter was the military's discovery of the group's stash and plantation of marijuana.
"Napatunayan nila na ang dahilan nito ay ang droga, dahil na-recover nila ang mga marijuana, mga tira-tirang marijuana na kanilang hinihithit doon sa kanilang pinagkakampuhan," he said.
He added, "Kung matatandaan natin, noong nakaraang linggo, nadiskubre natin ang marijuana plantation nila sa may Maimbung, Sulu. Ito ay patunay na maliban sa terorismo na kanilang ginagawa, gumagamit din sila ng droga, either sa negosyo o sa pansariling gamit."
Abu Sayyaf forces 'weakening'
Despite this, Cabunoc said the AFP still believe the bandit group is losing influence in the area because the military has the support of the local government, as well as various stakeholders.
He said local goverment officials, as well as civic and religious leaders, openly condemned the bandits when they met with Catapang last week.
"Pahina nang pahina ang kanilang hanay dahil mismong local officials sa Sulu ang nagkanulo sa kanila, at nagkaisa ang stakeholders, kasama ang local goverment, mga religious leaders, na sila ay kondenahin," Cabunoc said.
He added that the AFP is working on isolating the rebels from their community and keeping them from recruiting members.
"Dahan-dahan na 'yan, pahina nang pahina ang kanilang hanay dahil ina-isolate natin sila ngayon sa komunidad. Ang ating ginagawa ay hindi lamang law enforcement operations, maging pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga komunidad, sa mga key leaders, lalo na sa religious leaders at maging sa mga kaanak nitong mga bandido dahil nais natin na sila ay hindi humalo doon. Nais natin na makumbinse, lalo na itong kabataan na hinihikayat nitong mga bandido na sumama sa kanilang hanay ... ang kanilang ginagawa ay taliwas sa itinuturo ng Islam at ikinahihiya ito ng kanilang kapwa muslim at kapwa Tausug dahil ginagawa nilang kidnap capital ang Sulu," he said.
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