With the Abu Sayyaf Group sustaining 14 dead and 19 wounded
in Wednesday's clash, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen.
Gregorio Pio Catapang on Thursday ordered the military to conduct more
intensified operations against the ASG in Basilan and Sulu.
Catapang stressed that he intends to use both military and
non-military approaches to deal with the ASG problem.
"This is not a pure military solution to this lingering
social problem. I will commit troops to relentlessly pursue the armed bandits
who are hiding in the jungles and another group of soldiers who will work with
the local government and non-government organizations in addressing the wide
array of community issues that are also attributed to the existence of the
ASG," he added.
Catapang added that the military will involve different
stakeholders in helping the local government units deliver basic social
services to the people.
He said that he is considering an option to send more troops
to help flush out the ASG.
Catapang said that the AFP through the Western Mindanao
Command will support socio-economic programs that will cater to livelihood,
education, and counter-radicalization as part of the military's 'Whole of
Government Approach' of addressing the problem.
Meanwhile, Col. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu
commander, has identified the soldiers who died in the encounter on Feb. 25 as
Cpl. Lonell Bautista, 35, of Emilio Aguinaldo, Cavite; and, Pfc. Ervin Roquero,
23, of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
Sixteen other soldiers were slightly wounded by 40mm
shrapnel in the running gunbattle that ensued.
Among those who were wounded include 1st Lt. Ramsel Dugan
and 2nd Lt. Bernard Mabazza.
They were proclaimed out of danger by attending physicians.
Catapang has also expressed sorrow for the soldiers who paid
the ultimate sacrifice in the performance of their duties.
He said that he had extended his deepest sympathies to the
family members of the fallen heroes.
"I could not describe my pain for losing another brave
soldiers in the hands of Abu Sayyaf terrorists. I share the sorrow that is felt
by their loved ones," he said, adding, "I will make sure that
appropriate honors will be given to these fallen heroes. These fine young men
will not be forgotten," Catapang stressed.
Following the bandits' route of withdrawal, the troops
pursued the bandits deep inside the jungles located in the adjacent sub-village of Kan Jimaw
Another firefight ensued at 9:15 a.m. Thursday when the
Scout Rangers spotted at least 100 bandits led by Hatib Sawadjaan.
The troops spotted more casualties on the enemy side but
they were dragged by the bandits after the 15-minute firefight.
The troops chased the bandits who fled towards Barangay
Bakong of the same municipality.
Arrojado has poured in more troops including a group of
policemen led by one Supt. Nantes to arrest the bandits who mingle with
civilians in the nearby communities.
The troops belonging to the 35th Infantry Battalion led by
Lt. Col. Marces Gayat, discovered an enemy encampment in the same village at
around 11:40 a.m.
The camp can accommodate at least 50 persons.
Civilian tipsters also revealed that three Malaysian
nationals who are members of the Jemaah Islamiya were coddled by the group of
Sawadjaan.
As of 2 p.m., the JTG Sulu has pounded the enemy positions
with mortar fire.
There were no reported casualties on both sides.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=739306
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