Military boosts campaign vs Abu Sayyaf with ‘task group’ activation

From the Business Mirror (Apr 6): Military boosts campaign vs Abu Sayyaf with ‘task group’ activation

MAJ. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos was designated on Wednesday as the new commander of the Armed Forces Joint Task Group Jolo (JTGJ), one day after Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado was relieved as the task force commander.

Military authorities were mum on the reasons for Arrojado’s ambush, although observers said JTGJ was in the midst of an intensified campaign against the Abu Sayyaf and commanders are not usually relieved in the middle of a campaign.

In a statement, the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command said Barrientos, as the new commander of the task group, concurrent to his post as commander of the Army’s First Infantry “Tabak” Division, which is deployed in Western Mindanao.

To ease Barrientos’s assignment as top military commander in Sulu, the Western Command (Wescom)Joint Task Force Sulu was “dissolved,” and in its stead the Joint Task Group Jolo was “activated.”

Although supposed to be a new unit, JTGJ is just composed of all the military units attached to former Joint Task Force Sulu.

In addition, the change of designation of the task force to task group necessitated the appointment of an officer of higher rank than Arrojado as commander of the unit.

Barrientos’s operational jurisdiction as 1ID commander includes the Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The Wescom said Barrientos’s designation as the overall commander of military forces in Sulu was part of its ongoing operations in Western Mindanao.

This is “part of this headquarters’ effort to streamline our ongoing operations [and] ensure coverage of all operational areas and synchronize current efforts,” it said.

“This is to allow our brigade commanders to focus on assigned tasks in light of new security challenges in the area,” the area command added without elaborating.

The Wescom also designated Rear Adm. Jorge Amba, Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander, as head of the Joint Task Group Tawi-Tawi.

Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) gunmen fired at a group of people attending a government program in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, on Wednesday.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, acting public affairs officer of the Army’s Sixth Infantry “Kampilan” Division, said terrorists fired at the group of people, which include mayors, policemen, soldiers, students and media workers in Sitio Balas, Barangay Tee, at around 8:30 a.m.

No one was wounded in the incident.

Encinas said the bullets hit several houses and the roof of a Muslim school.

He said BIFF members also fired at the convoy of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6ID commander, in Sitio Butalo, also in Barangay Tee, at around 10 a.m., while they were on the way to the program.
No one among the member of the convoy was wounded.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/military-boosts-campaign-vs-abu-sayyaf-with-task-group-activation/