From the Mindanao Examiner (Apr 18, 2022): Troops disarm Sayyaf bomb
Patrolling soldiers recovered an Abu Sayyaf improvised explosive on a village in Sulu’s Indanan town in southern Philippines, officials said, adding it was the fifth homemade bomb discovered in the province since early this year.
A photo released by the 11th Infantry Division shows the recovered Abu Sayyaf bomb planted in the village of Tumatangis in Sulu's Indanan town.
Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force – Sulu, said members of the 100th Infantry Battalion led by 2nd Lt. Enrey Rafael discovered the improvised explosive in Tumatangis village over the weekend. The area is frequented by patrolling military units.
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 said lauded the soldiers for the discovery of the bomb. He said four other improvised explosives 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.
“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 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 Abu Sayyaf members have surrendered to the military and police the past decades, especially during this 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 in Ending Local Armed Conflict.
Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the 11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force – Sulu, said members of the 100th Infantry Battalion led by 2nd Lt. Enrey Rafael discovered the improvised explosive in Tumatangis village over the weekend. The area is frequented by patrolling military units.
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 said lauded the soldiers for the discovery of the bomb. He said four other improvised explosives 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.
“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 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 Abu Sayyaf members have surrendered to the military and police the past decades, especially during this 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 in Ending Local Armed Conflict.
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 Abu Sayyaf - and asked villagers to support the government program.
He also held a covenant meeting with other municipal mayors and publicly denounced the Abu Sayyaf atrocities and propounded initiatives to strengthen and institutionalize public safety, security, and well-being in the municipality. Tan activated the Municipal Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict in all of Sulu’s 19 towns in an effort to accelerate various government peace programs and working 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 socio-cultural, security, and development issues and to sustain and tap the development potentials of each town. Sulu has long declared the Abu Sayyaf and its supporters as “persona non grata.”
President Rodrigo Duterte previously sought Tan to help him in the peace process, but at the same time ordered security forces to crush the Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the spate of bombings that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians the past decades. 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.
http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2022/04/troops-disarm-sayyaf-bomb.html
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