Elite troops hold interoperability exercise in ex-ASG stronghold

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 14, 2022): Elite troops hold interoperability exercise in ex-ASG stronghold (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

JOINT EXERCISE. A soldier stands guard as the truck of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) maneuvers on a muddy road amid a downpour in Sinumaan complex, a former stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Talipao, Sulu. The elite troops of the Army's 2nd Special Forces Battalion and PNP-SAF held an interoperability exercise in the area on Wednesday (July 13, 2022). (Photo courtesy of the 6th Special Forces Company)

Elite Army and police forces conducted an interoperability exercise in the Sinumaan complex, a former stronghold of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Sulu’s town of Talipao, a military official said Thursday.

Capt. Ron Villarosa, the Army’s 6th Special Forces Company (6SFC) commander, said the exercise spanned the newly opened 7-km. Sinumaan road network, passing through the recently liberated communities of barangays Bud Bunga and Upper Sinumaan, reaching Masjid Maas, and exiting towards Barangay Kagay in Talipao.

The troops involved in the exercise that was held Wednesday belonged to the 6SFC of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion (2SFB)and the 7th Special Action Battalion of the Philippine National Police – Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

Villarosa said the activity allowed the PNP- SAF troopers to operationally test their 4×4 all-terrain vehicles in the mountainous and hinterland areas of Sinumaan.

“Upon descent, the convoy encountered heavy downpour, exposing the troopers to challenging trail conditions,” he said.

Villarosa noted that the activity formed part of the partnership between the two elite units to advance development, governance, and security interventions in conflict-affected communities.

Early this month, Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, 11th Infantry Division commander, led the inauguration of the 7-km. unpaved Sinumaan road network, which connects barangays Lower Sinumaan and Upper Sinumaan.

The road network was built in three weeks through the joint efforts of the 2SFB and 545th Engineering Battalion, in partnership with the local government through the Provincial Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (PTF-ELAC).

The PTF-ELAC is Sulu’s local version of the national government’s Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Patrimonio said the endeavor is tangible proof that they are getting nearer to the overall peace and development that all had wanted for the province of Sulu.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1178964