Government to build military camp in former Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Basilan

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 28): Government to build military camp in former Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Basilan

A military camp will be set-up in the former stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) which the government forces have recently overran and occupied in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan province.

The camp will be set-up in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, where the government troops have successfully driven out the Basilan-based ASG.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) told the Philippines News Agency that the aim of setting up the military camp in Barangay Baguindan is to prevent the return of the ASG in the area.

Hataman said the ASG brigands are interested in occupying Barangay Baguindan because it is strategically located.

He said Barangay Baguindan is accessible and the shortest route in going to the nearby towns of Sumisip and Al-Barka coming from Tipo-Tipo municipality.

“Very strategic talaga ito (Baguindan), kung galing Sumisip papuntang Al-Barka or vice-versa, dadaan tayo dito,” he added.

Basilan Governor Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman said the establishment of the military camp is purposely to bring the government closer to the people since Baguindan has been the symbol of lawlessness in the past years.

Salliman said it is also aimed at sustaining the gains of the government in the fight against the ASG brigands in the province.

Salliman the headquarters of the Army’s 74th Infantry Battalion, one of the two additional battalions sent to the province, will be placed in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo.

President Rodrigo Duterte has deployed the Army’s 74th and 68th Infantry Battalions to Basilan upon the request of Salliman and Hataman.

Salliman said the headquarters of the 68th Infantry Battalion will be placed in Barangay Baiwas, Sumisip town.

Lt. Col. Ernest John Jadloc, 74th Infantry Battalion commander, said the capture of Baguindan is a big blow to the Basilan-based ASG brigands as they are now on the run.

“Wala na silang strategic position, malaking bagay yon (overran of Baguindan), on the run sila parati. Wala na silang ganitong (strategic) stronghold,” Jadloc added.

The 74th Infantry Battalion arrived in Basilan on August 16 coming from Quezon province.

Salliman said the latest information they gathered is that the ASG brigands are now hiding in the so-called Sampinit complex, which is located in the tri-boundary of Isabela City, Sumisip and Maluso towns.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=926991