Posted to the Manila Times (Apr 18, 2022): Abu Sayyaf bomb disarmed in Sulu (By Al Jacinto)
BOMBING FOILED A photo released by the 11th Infantry Division on Monday, April 18, 2022, shows the recovered Abu Sayyaf-made bomb planted in the village of Tumatangis in Sulu’s Indanan town. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force-Sulu, said members of the 100th Infantry Battalion led by 2Lt. Enrey Rafael discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) in Tumatangis village over the weekend. The area is frequented by patrolling military units.
It was the fifth homemade bomb discovered in the province early this year.
Quoting a report by Col. Giovanni Franza, commander of the 1102nd Infantry Brigade, Patrimonio said additional soldiers combed the area to ensure no other explosives were planted in the village.
"Upon discovery of our operating troops, we immediately deployed additional forces to secure the area," Franza said. "We also deployed our Explosive and Ordnance Disposal Team in the area, and they were able to successfully disarm the IED."
Patrimonio lauded the soldiers for the discovery of the bomb. He said four other IEDs had been recovered by government troops in Sulu since January. Because of the latest discovery of the bomb, Patrimonio said he ordered security forces to further intensify efforts to neutralize remaining members of the terrorist group.
READ: Military foils bombing attempt in Sulu
"The IED laid by the Abu Sayyaf group indicate the terrorists' firm resolve to harm not only our troops, but also the innocent civilians. We will continue to hunt the remaining ASG bandits who continue to create havoc in peaceful communities. Now, it is only a matter of time before we can finally say that Sulu is completely free from the threats of these ASG bandits," Patrimonio said.
He also urged villagers to continue helping security forces until the remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) are neutralized.
"Our collective efforts in ending the local armed conflict significantly reduced the ASG strength and capabilities to terrorize our peaceful communities. Let's continue to work together towards our vision of lasting peace and sustainable development in the province of Sulu," Patrimonio said.
Hundreds of ASG members have surrendered to the military and the police in the past decade, especially during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, where the national and provincial governments collaborated on peace and development efforts and provided former militants an opportunity to start a new life under the Sulu Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict program.
READ: ASG members surrender in Sulu
In October 2020, Gov. Sakur Tan led the signing of the so-called "Parjanjian Indanan" or the "Indanan People Peace Covenant" in an effort to harness the community's participation and empowerment to achieve long-lasting peace in Sulu.
Tan signed the covenant with Indanan municipal officials and witnessed by senior military and police officials. The governor reiterated his all-out support for the peace and development effort in the town — then a stronghold of the ASG — and asked villagers to support the government program.
He also held a covenant meeting with other municipal mayors and publicly denounced ASG atrocities and propounded initiatives to strengthen and institutionalize public safety, security and well-being in the municipality. Tan activated the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict in all of Sulu's 19 towns in an effort to accelerate various government peace programs and work together with the community to sustain security and normalcy.
Tan led town officials in activating the Municipal Peace Action Operations and Monitoring Center and the Islamic Religious Council to address the sociocultural, security, and development issues and to sustain and tap the development potentials of each town. Sulu has long declared the ASG and its supporters as "persona non grata."
READ: Troops clash with Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
Duterte previously sought Tan to help him in the peace process, but at the same time ordered security forces to crush the ASG, which was blamed for the spate of bombings that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians in the region.
Aside from Tan, Duterte also spoke to Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, to support the government's peace efforts.
Misuari now lives in Davao City after his followers raided Zamboanga City in September 2013 and battled security forces for three weeks after a failed attempt to raise the flag of the self-proclaimed Bangsamoro Republik at the City Hall. The battle affected over 200,000 people and killed at least 200 others.
Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force-Sulu, said members of the 100th Infantry Battalion led by 2Lt. Enrey Rafael discovered an improvised explosive device (IED) in Tumatangis village over the weekend. The area is frequented by patrolling military units.
It was the fifth homemade bomb discovered in the province early this year.
Quoting a report by Col. Giovanni Franza, commander of the 1102nd Infantry Brigade, Patrimonio said additional soldiers combed the area to ensure no other explosives were planted in the village.
"Upon discovery of our operating troops, we immediately deployed additional forces to secure the area," Franza said. "We also deployed our Explosive and Ordnance Disposal Team in the area, and they were able to successfully disarm the IED."
Patrimonio lauded the soldiers for the discovery of the bomb. He said four other IEDs had been recovered by government troops in Sulu since January. Because of the latest discovery of the bomb, Patrimonio said he ordered security forces to further intensify efforts to neutralize remaining members of the terrorist group.
READ: Military foils bombing attempt in Sulu
"The IED laid by the Abu Sayyaf group indicate the terrorists' firm resolve to harm not only our troops, but also the innocent civilians. We will continue to hunt the remaining ASG bandits who continue to create havoc in peaceful communities. Now, it is only a matter of time before we can finally say that Sulu is completely free from the threats of these ASG bandits," Patrimonio said.
He also urged villagers to continue helping security forces until the remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) are neutralized.
"Our collective efforts in ending the local armed conflict significantly reduced the ASG strength and capabilities to terrorize our peaceful communities. Let's continue to work together towards our vision of lasting peace and sustainable development in the province of Sulu," Patrimonio said.
Hundreds of ASG members have surrendered to the military and the police in the past decade, especially during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, where the national and provincial governments collaborated on peace and development efforts and provided former militants an opportunity to start a new life under the Sulu Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict program.
READ: ASG members surrender in Sulu
In October 2020, Gov. Sakur Tan led the signing of the so-called "Parjanjian Indanan" or the "Indanan People Peace Covenant" in an effort to harness the community's participation and empowerment to achieve long-lasting peace in Sulu.
Tan signed the covenant with Indanan municipal officials and witnessed by senior military and police officials. The governor reiterated his all-out support for the peace and development effort in the town — then a stronghold of the ASG — and asked villagers to support the government program.
He also held a covenant meeting with other municipal mayors and publicly denounced ASG atrocities and propounded initiatives to strengthen and institutionalize public safety, security and well-being in the municipality. Tan activated the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict in all of Sulu's 19 towns in an effort to accelerate various government peace programs and work together with the community to sustain security and normalcy.
Tan led town officials in activating the Municipal Peace Action Operations and Monitoring Center and the Islamic Religious Council to address the sociocultural, security, and development issues and to sustain and tap the development potentials of each town. Sulu has long declared the ASG and its supporters as "persona non grata."
READ: Troops clash with Abu Sayyaf in Sulu
Duterte previously sought Tan to help him in the peace process, but at the same time ordered security forces to crush the ASG, which was blamed for the spate of bombings that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians in the region.
Aside from Tan, Duterte also spoke to Nur Misuari, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front, to support the government's peace efforts.
Misuari now lives in Davao City after his followers raided Zamboanga City in September 2013 and battled security forces for three weeks after a failed attempt to raise the flag of the self-proclaimed Bangsamoro Republik at the City Hall. The battle affected over 200,000 people and killed at least 200 others.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/04/19/news/regions/abu-sayyaf-bomb-disarmed-in-sulu/1840427
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