Military takes offensive against ASG in Basilan

ISABELA CITY,  Basilan ---  The  military here last July 7 conducted an offensive against terrorists who attacked the Municipal Hall of  Tipo-Tipo the night before as if challenging the government when they raised the the flag of the ISIS, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Elements of the 18th Infantry Battalion, backed by UV-10 Howitzer artillery and Philippine Air Force, tracked down the Abu Sayyaf Group numbering some 700.

Senior Superintendent Oscar Nantes, Basilan Police Office director, said they have heightened its   red alert status with combat augmentation force on the ready to thwart enemy attacks that undermine the security of the island-province.

"We stand by the order of the President to track down the terrorists and neutralize these enemies to restore the peace here in support of the advocacy on the peace process," Nantes said.

Basilan Governor Hataman Jim Salliman said the provincial government has validated the number of displaced families in the three municipalities affected by the conflict situation.

The provincial government immediately served the immediate needs of some 1,300 families or more than 7,000 individuals at the different evacuation centers where the governor personally visited to distribute the relief assistance.

Salliman added that he fully supports President Rodrigo Duterte’s mandate to neutralize the terrorists in an effort to restore peace the soonest. (Becky D. de Asis)