As military pursues Abu Sayyaf group, displaced Sulu residents get help from local gov’t

From the Business World (Mar 26, 2019): As military pursues Abu Sayyaf group, displaced Sulu residents get help from local gov’t


PDRRMO

THE SULU Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRROM) brought relief goods to displaced residents of the province on Monday as the military continues with its pursuit operations of the kidnap-for-ransom Abu Sayyaf group.

The PDRRMO, assisted by the municipal government of Kalinggalan Caluang, police and military forces, said it distributed goods to families from Simisa Island, where troops killed three Abu Sayyaf members on Sunday.

In a report on Monday, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said soldiers of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 clashed with an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf members under sub leader Najir Arik in Simisa Island Sunday morning.

No casualty was reported on the government side. Pursuit and clearing operations are ongoing.

“The Joint Task Force Sulu continues to intensify the conduct of offensives against the Abu Sayyaf,” said Lt. General Arnel B. Dela Vega, WestMinCom commander.

Government forces have been pursuing members of the bandit group, with operations further intensified since the Jan. 27, 2019 bombing of a Catholic church in Jolo, the capital of Sulu.

The Abu Sayyaf have pledged allegiance to the extremist Islamic State.

https://www.bworldonline.com/as-military-pursues-abu-sayyaf-group-displaced-sulu-residents-get-help-from-local-govt/