links: http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/417-149-abus-neutralized-70-fas-seized-in-western-mindanao
149 Abus neutralized, 70 FAs seized in Western Mindanao
Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – The
all-out offensives launched by the military since January this year
yielded to the deaths of 81 Abu Sayyaf, surrender of 50, apprehension of
18 and the seizure of 70 high powered and low powered firearms from the
group.
The latest skirmishes between the Government forces and the bandits was in Patikul, Sulu Province at 7am today (May 17).
Elements of the 10th Infantry Battalion,
under the Joint Task Force Sulu engaged in a five-minute gun battle
with about fifteen Abu Sayyaf at the Patikul hill in Barangay Sandahn
that resulted to the death of two Abu Sayyaf bandits and the seizure of
three M16 rifles.
At 7:45pm yesterday (May 16), Abu Sayyaf
members Musa Jamil Alsid, 19 years old, and Mohammad Waddang Udding, 20
years old, both residents of Barangay Pitogo, Caluang, Sulu,
surrendered to the troops of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion under
Lieutenant Colonel Gaspar Panopio.
Said surrender was made possible through the joint efforts of the 3rd Civilian Active Auxiliary Sulu Company.
The surrendered Abu Sayyaf members, who
are followers of the late ASG sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya, also yielded to
the troops an M16 rifle.
As of press time, Alsid and Udding are undergoing custodial debriefing conducted by personnel of the 2SFBn in Talipao, Sulu.
“My standing order to JTF Sulu Commander
is to flush out the Abu Sayyaf from their comfort zones and bring them
to places where they are vulnerable," says Lieutenant General Carlito G
Galvez, Jr, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command. “This is exactly
what is happening in Sulu and in other Provinces confronting Abu Sayyaf
threat."
“Before the campaign started last
January this year, we started going after more than 500 Abu Sayyaf
members. With the support we are receiving from the local officials, and
other stakeholders, including the MILF and the MNLF, we have strong
reasons to believe that we are only confronting less than half the
number of the bandits right now.”
"Our forces are in full throttle doing
both lethal and non-lethal approaches. It will just be a matter of time
that we will defeat the entire group," adds Lieutenant General Galvez.
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