More troops deployed against Abus in Basilan

From the Daily Tribune (Mar 28): More troops deployed against Abus in Basilan

More troops were deployed in Basilan to conduct relentless combat operations against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group.

Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman for the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), said that two additional companies of troops were sent to Basilan to sustain the operation against the Abu Sayyaf.

Tan, however, refused to reveal the exact number of augmentation troops.

“Our relentless operations are continuing. We inserted additional troops to sustain the pursuit operation,” said Tan.

“Hopefully, we will have positive development in the coming days,” he added.

Tan justified the deployment of additional troops in Basilan, saying the military does not want to move out forces from the areas that have been cleared earlier with Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

According to Tan, the augmentation forces will come primarily from military units based in Zamboanga.

He assured that the sending of additional troops to Basilan will not result to weaken military presence in other areas under Wesmincom.

On Holy Friday, elements of the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion (SFB) clashed with more or less 40 Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Albarka, Basilan, resulting in at least two ASG killed while six others were wounded.

“There is no letup in our operations against these lawless elements,” Tan said.

Tan said that the encountered ASG band was under Isnilon Hapilon –the Abu Sayyaf commander who declared allegiance with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Hapilon is wanted by both the Philippine and the United States governments – the US has $5 million reward for his neutralization.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/more-troops-deployed-against-abus-in-basilan