Tuesday, August 16, 2016

ASG stronghold captured in Basilan operations

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 16): ASG stronghold captured in Basilan operations

Units of Joint Task Group Basilan have successfully captured a known Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) stronghold in Hill 355, Barangay Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo town in Basilan province Monday.

Western Mindanao Command (WMC) spokesperson Major Filemon Tan said the captured bandit lair was fortified with bunkers, tunnels, and foxholes.

Seized by troops of the 4th Special Forces Battalion were two improvised explosive devices with the following components: a 60mm mortar container, a plastic bottle with ANFO, sharp nails, coins, one 9-volts battery, one small plastic box, wires, switch, and an improvised electric blasting cap.

The seized camp has 10 bunkers measuring 4x4x5 feet that can be occupied by more or less seven people; four tunnels that can be occupied by 20 people; several foxholes that can be occupied by eight people; a kitchen hut; and one exit post.

Tan said the camp was declared clear by the explosive ordnance disposal team.

At around 2:21p.m. of the same day, operating troops displaced the area and established defensive position in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo.

Operating troops on Sunday simultaneously seized and controlled strategic strongholds of the ASG in Barangay Baguindan Proper and at Hill 440 (Kawilan Hill).

The terrain served to secure Abu Sayyaf’s vital mobility and to intimidate nearby communities.

The combined assault from the Special Forces, other elite counter terrorism units, and light armor cavalry troops, with support from massive artillery fire, forced the enemy to abandon their stronghold which is fortified with seven foxholes, 12 bunkers capable of accommodating at least 80 ASG kidnap-for-ransom terrorists.

Military troops also recovered three unexploded ordnances and several IEDs.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=914304

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