Focused military operations are still ongoing in Patikul,
Sulu as part of efforts to crush the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Western Mindanao
Command (WMC) spokesperson Maj. Filemon Tan told PNA Monday.
The lack of encounters with the terrorist group does not mean
that the ASG and its sub-groups have eluded the military, Tan said.
"Actually, we are pursuing many ASG sub-groups and each
battalion is committed to tracking down a specific bandit group," he said
in Filipino.
ASG sub-groups are known to be commanded by Radullan Sahiron
and Alhabsy Misaya.
Tan noted that their task is getting difficult as the ASG is
now splintering into smaller groups, making the bandits more mobile and
difficult to detect.
"Despite this, we are still able to track them and we
are using different maneuvers to detect and engage them," he said.
Shelling of suspected ASG positions have been ongoing for
the past few days.
Some 15 troopers were killed and 12 others were wounded
after military units clashed with ASG bandits, headed by Radullan Sahiron in
Sitio Kan Jalul, Barangay Maligay, Patikul, Sulu last August 29.
A total of 30 terrorists have reportedly been killed and 11
have been wounded in the series of clashes with government forces.
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to destroy
the rebel group after they beheaded 18-year-old Patrick Jhames Almodavar last
Aug. 25 for his family's failure to pay their PHP1 million ransom demand.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=920262
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