Sunday, May 10, 2015

Gov't troops recover police station occupied by Sayyaf

From the Philippine Star posted to ABS-CBN (May 10): Gov't troops recover police station occupied by Sayyaf

Government troops and civilian volunteers have recovered a police station occupied by Abu Sayyaf rebels, who flew the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag in Tuburan town, Basilan, security officials confirmed.

Navy Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad, chief of staff for the Joint Task Group Zambasulta, said the rebel group occupied the unmanned police station in Sitio Project Site, Barangay Tuburan Proper on May 2 and hoisted ISIS black flags.

The rogue group also rigged the station and a nearby telecommunication cell site with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) before beheading worker Jakri Tarqi, he added.

In Maguindanao province, three soldiers were injured when some members of the terrorist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) detonated a roadside bomb when a Philippine Army truck passed by a secluded portion of the national highway in Sharif Aguak town.

The terrorist also fired at the soldiers using assault and grenade-launching rifles.

Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, Army 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the attackers were all adolescents who were forced to withdraw after soldiers returned fire.

Trinidad said the unidentified police station previously had two police officers, who had withdrawn and asked for support before engaging the Abu Sayyaf bandits in a firefight.

He added that troops from the Philippine Army’s 19th Special Forces Company and the Scout Rangers reinforced civilian volunteers in retaking the police station.

“The troops also pulled down two black flags hoisted by the Abu Sayyaf group,” Trinidad said.

The soldiers recovered the IEDs planted in the police station and at the cell site.

A local town official, who requested anonymity, said the Abu Sayyaf tried to sow terror by flying the ISIS flag and executing the 20-year-old Tarqi.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/05/10/15/govt-troops-recover-police-station-occupied-sayyaf

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