AFP gaining headway vs Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) – Government troops continued to gain headway in the focused military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the hinterlands of Sulu province.

“It will just be a matter of time before our troops will engage the ASG and punch a decisive blow into their ranks and leadership,” Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said in a text message.

Dela Vega on Monday visited the troops in the frontline fighting the ASG bandits in the hinterlands of Patikul and Talipao.

Dela Vega’s visit was intended to boost the morale of the troops in the field, as he also met with Col. Jesus Manangquil and Col. Jose Faustino, 101st and 501st Infantry Brigade commanders, respectively, for an update on the progress of the focused military operations.

The 101st Infantry Brigade is based in Patikul, while the 501st is stationed in Talipao.

Manangquil said the troops were slowly constricting the movements of the ASG brigands although they are familiar with the terrain.

“The familiarity of terrain is a noted advantage to them as of now, but as our troops conduct more operations and patrols and become more familiar with the terrain, we will negate that advantage and we will deliver a decisive blow against the ASG (brigands),” Manangquil said.

“We have to cleanse Sulu of the scourge of the Abu Sayyaf and make this place peaceful so that economic activity and tourism will prosper,” Faustino said.

The latest death toll of the ASG was at 59 casualties—32 in Sulu and 27 in Basilan – while the government troops have had 18 killed in action.

Of the 18 killed in action, 15 were killed in Sulu and three in Basilan.

Twenty-eight soldiers—27 in Sulu and one in Basilan – have been reported wounded in the focused military operations.