Posted to Kalinaw News (Mar 20, 2021): Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leaders captured while escaping Sulu; Indonesian kidnap victims rescued
March 19, 2021, Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Jolo, Sulu – At around 10:30pm last night, members of the Abu Sayyaf Kidnap-for-Ransom Group (KFRG) together with three Indonesian kidnap victims (KVs) were rescued by government security forces.
This transpired after their boat capsized near Pasigan Island in Tawi-Tawi. The group were reportedly forced to leave Sulu despite the strong current to evade the intense military operations in said province.
Law enforcement units captured Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-leaders Sahud Salasim @ Ben Wagas and Injimar Mangkabong @ Bensal Jakare after they were recognized as members of the ASG-KFRG. Salasim, a core member of the ASG-Sulu KFRG, transferred to Sulu when his group in Basilan disbanded. He is married to a certain Dr Moharin, still practicing in Basilan. Meanwhile, Mangkabong, who is from Patikul, Sulu has been previously operating under the group of notorious ASG leader Radullan Sahiron.
The three rescued Indonesian KVs were identified as Riswanto Bin Hayono, Arical Kastamiran, and Arsyad Bin Dahalan.
According to JTF-Sulu and 11th Infantry Division Commander MGen William N Gonzales, intelligence units confirmed that the KFRG under @ Ben Wagas decided to travel to Tawi-Tawi to evade the relentless focused military operations of the security forces in Sulu.
“To recall, the group of sub-leaders @ Ben Wagas, @Apo Mike, and @ Injam Yadah staged the kidnapping of these Indonesians on January 17, 2020 off of the waters of Tambisan, Malaysia. Since then, we have intensified our combat operations against these kidnappers. Originally, this KFRG hides in the mountainous areas of Indanan. Just last February, we launched brigade combat operations in that area. They were also not able to cross to Patikul area as we have established patrol bases within its hinterlands. Fortunately, the people of Sulu have been very helpful as they actively and continually deny the ASG of their usual hideouts.”
Notably, one of the Indonesian KVs told authorities in Tawi-Tawi that another kidnap victim, whom they identified as La Baa, was killed by their abductors while trying to escape during an encounter between the ASG and government forces in Patikul, Sulu on September 29, 2020. Another kidnap victim, a minor named Khairul, remains unaccounted for.
“After 14 months of persistent military operations, these people [KVs] are finally safe. The cooperation between the government security forces in Sulu, the LGU and the residents has again paid-off. We welcome this development, as this proves that the ASG cannot sustain their KFR activities in the island of Sulu.
This also demonstrates that government forces have gained control over the Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi area,” said MGen Gonzales. “The JTF-Sulu will continue to look for the remaining kidnap victim and pursue the members of the ASG who are now either hiding or scampering away to other provinces to evade us” he added.
Reportedly, some five to 10 other ASG members were with the group for their escape. Units under JTF-Sulu are now on alert in case the remaining abductors would sail back to Sulu.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
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