Troops push for the kill in Sulu

From the Mindanao Examiner (Mar 1, 2020): Troops push for the kill in Sulu

SULU – Military forces continue its assault on Abu Sayyaf lairs in the southern Filipino province of Sulu where fighting killed at least 2 militants and also wounded two soldiers, officials said.

“Pursuit and deliberate offensives continue to pressure and pound down Abu Sayyaf fighters, constricting their movement and pre-empting terror ploys in the ZamBaSulTa area,” Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said referring to Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

Sobejana said troops were targeting Abu Sayyaf leaders Radulan Sahiron and Hajan Sawadjaan, who pledged allegiance to ISIS. The assault began last week in Bakong village in Patikul town where security forces pounded the Abu Sayyaf strongholds.

“We build up combat and intelligence operations to debilitate the militants in Sulu,” he said, adding, members of the 15th Scout Ranger Company were running after the militants and their leaders.

Sobejana described Sunday’s fighting as “ferocious” after two of his soldiers were injured in the clash. Troops retaliated with a barrage of mortar fires as ground forces pushed for the kill.

“Two brave soldiers were also slightly wounded in a fierce of gunfire. Mortar teams immediately delivered fire support to the engaged troops,” he said.

Joint Task Force Sulu under the command of Major General Corleto S. Vinluan Jr. said one of the slain militant was identified as Baby Abdurasa, a notorious Abu Sayyaf fighter.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding five Indonesian fishermen kidnapped in January off Sabah and brought by boat to Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the restive Muslim autonomous region.

Eight masked gunmen hijacked their trawler near Tambisan Island and seized five of the 8 crew - Arsyad Abdullah, the skipper; and crew members 41; La Baa, 32; Riswanto Hayano, 27; Edi Lawalopo, 53; and Syarizal Kastamiran, 29, - all based in Sandakan.

They were snatched from the same area where the Abu Sayyaf captured 3 Indonesian fishermen in September last year and brought to Sulu. The trio - Muhammad Farhan, 27, Samiun Maneu, 26, and Maharudin Lunani, 26, were all rescued separately by Filipino troops in Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner)

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