Government forces scores anew: kills four Abus, sieze enemy encampment in Basilan

By Jong D. Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (May 8, 2017) - As more Abus surrender, Government forces seize a temporary enemy encampment in Sumisip, Basilan and kills 4 enemies in two separate encounters on Saturday (May 6, 2017), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Information Officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the operating troops of the 4th Special Forces Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Bacala Jr encountered undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf at SitioTalisay, Brgy Upper Bembengan, Sumisip in the nearby province of Basilan on Saturday at 2PM. The surprised enemy fought the troops into a 30 minute gun battle however scampered to different directions when they heard the incoming air assets of the government forces.

Cpt. Petinglay said that the soldiers immediately conducted pursuit operation and blocked the possible route of withdrawal of the bandits. This resulted to another encounter which lasted for about an hour and 30 minutes.

“Our operating troops saw enemies getting hit by our bullets however they were not able to retrieve their bodies during the clearing operations,” says Colonel Juvymax Uy, the Commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan.

A temporary encampment was also seized by the special forces at the vicinity of Brgy Cabcaban, Sumisip, Basilan that can accommodate more or less 40 persons, Cpt. Petinglay added.

Also found in the encampment were 15 meters plastic PVC pipe and a fuse believed to be used in making Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Cpt. Petinglay further said that in the continuing pursuit operations, troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo M. Lucero Jr encountered Abu Sayyaf members who are believed to be the same group engaged by the special forces earlier. The clash occurred at 9 in the evening in Brgy Mahatang, Sumisip, Basilan.

“The information was precise that the bandits are in that area hiding. The information we received from the populace led to another engagement last night,” reports Colonel Uy.

“We also learned that four bandits who were earlier wounded perished during the series of firefights," JTF Basilan Commander adds.

As of this report, JTF Basilan forces are still scouring the area while pursuit operations are still on the roll.

“We will continue to pound on the Abu Sayyaf. As long as they continue to pose a threat to the populace, we will be going after them and we will make sure that we will get them,” says Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“The information given by those who surrendered are indeed very helpful in our operations. We are therefore calling on the other Abu Sayyaf members to surrender before the government forces get them. They have to decide now and fast before it is too late,” the WestMinCom Chief adds.