20 ASG bandits killed in 2-week intense military operations in Sulu, Basilan

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 5): 20 ASG bandits killed in 2-week intense military operations in Sulu, Basilan

Relentless military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan have so far killed 20 bandits, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) here said on Sunday.

On Saturday, the military reported that 16 Abu Sayyaf members have been killed, while four were apprehended in the span of two weeks. The bandits’ death toll increased to 20 on Sunday, following a pre-dawn operation that resulted in the killings of four more bandits.

“These successes would not be possible if not for the swift reaction of the troops and the help of the informants,” Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, said in a statement on Sunday.

“Our troops are more than motivated to go after these bandits who know nothing but to victimize innocent civilians for their own personal gain,” Galvez added, who oversee the operations of military against terror groups in the entire Western Mindanao and Central Mindanao.

Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said Sunday’s operation was carried our upon a tipped off from civilians, who informed them of the presence of the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Talipao.

“Heavy firefight erupted shortly after the marines arrived in the area about 4:30 this morning. The Abu Sayyaf bandits immediately scampered to different directions when the fighting started and immediately fled the area of encounter,” Sobejana said.

Troops recovered the bodies of the four slain Abu Sayayaf members, and recovered seven high-powered firearms.

“As of press time, skirmishes are still ongoing with the marines on hot pursuit operation to the fleeing Abus,” Sobejana said.

On Friday, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited Jolo to show its support to the ongoing military operations and boost the morale of its troops.

The president gave medals to the 18 wounded military personnel inside a military hospital.

“The awarding and the personal visit of the President to our wounded soldiers motivated them more to fight these bandits,” Galvez said.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, Westmincom information officer, said there is a possibility that the numbers of the slain Abu Sayyaf bandits could rise further as the military continue its operations in the two island provinces.

Galvez said the military intensified its operations against Abu Sayyaf bandits following the beheading of Juergen Gustav Kantner on February 26.

Kantner is a German national, who was kidnapped by the bandits at the high seas of Sulu on November.

Kantner remains were found by the raiding troops in Sulu on Saturday.

At present, there are still a handful of kidnapped victims, including foreigners who were brought in Sulu, military officials said.

However, despite the intensified military operations, kidnaping activities still persists following the abductions of a couple that are into coconut farming in a remote coastal village of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

Zamboanga Peninsula’s regional police reported that unidentified armed groups abducted the victims as Jose Duterte, 62, a coconut farmer and his wife Jessica Barazon Duterte, 52, residents of Barangay Sta. Maria, Siocon town.
The couple is not related to President Duterte, police clarified.

Prevailing pattern shows that the kidnappers abducts their victims in some parts of Western Mindanao and turned it over to the Abu Sayyaf in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu, security officials have noted.

Although most of its founding leaders have already been killed, a new emerging generation has emerged -- an indicator that Abu-Sayyaf group has still an influenced over their areas.

Kidnapping and abduction activities are not uncommon in southwestern Mindanao area, where Abu-Sayyaf Group and other kidnapped-for-ransom gangs actively operate despite the heavy presence of security forces.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=969223