BASILAN – Government forces have tightened security in the southern Philippine province of Basilan after a clash with Abu Sayyaf gunmen planning to bomb military targets along the stretch of the circumferential road.
Brigadier General Fernando Reyeg, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, said Tuesday fighting occurred in the village called Calang Canas in Maluso town, a known stronghold of the pro-ISIS group.
He said the clash lasted for about 30 minutes and that troops had recovered 6 improvised explosives left behind by the gunmen, believed to be under militant leader Furji Indama, one of the most notorious terrorist in Basilan, which is a part of the Muslim autonomous region.
A military photo released to The Zamboanga Post shows the recovered Abu Sayyaf bombs.
Reyeg said the fighting broke out after soldiers from the 68th Infantry Battalion received intelligence information about the planned bombings and tracked down the about 15 militants and caught up with them, sparking a running gun battle.
“The troops were acting on a report received from a reliable source regarding the plan of Furuji Indama’s group to create havoc in our area of operation. Heavy firefight ensued that lasted for more or less 30 minutes after which the enemies withdrew bringing along their casualties with them,” he said, adding, there were no military casualties in the fighting.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, praised the army operation and the recovery of the crude bombs. “We are grateful for we incurred no casualty during the operation and we were able to secure the IEDs and foil the bomb plot of the enemies,” he said.
“The successful recovery of the IEDs is attributed to the concerned citizen who provided the information, to the local government units of Basilan, and to our gallant soldiers who are always steadfast in accomplishing their mission,” Sobejana added.
Military and provincial officials have previously trumpeted that the numbers of Abu Sayyaf here have dwindled due to the mass surrender of its members in the past years, and even provided them with livelihood skills training to help them reintegrate to society.
But despite all of these special privileges, the Abu Sayyaf remains a major concern to local authorities and the presence of foreign ISIS terrorists in Basilan aggravated the security situation here.
ISIS also claimed a suicide attack on an army checkpoint by a Moroccan militant, Abu Katheer al Maghribi, who drove a truck laden with explosives in Lamitan City in August 2018.
The powerful explosion obliterated the vehicle and left a huge crater and among those killed were a woman and a child; and the militia commander whose unit is under the supervision of the Philippine Army. At least 11 soldiers and pro-government militias were killed in the attack. Five soldiers and several civilians were also wounded in the explosion. (Zamboanga Post)
https://mindanaoexaminer.com/basilan-troops-foil-sayyaf-bombing-attempt/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.