By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM
AT least 19 members of the local terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group have been killed in the continuing operations by the military in Sulu, following the order of President Duterte for soldiers to finish off the bandits in the aftermath of their beheading of an 18-year-old teenager last week in the province.
Also, at least 17 soldiers were also wounded in the raging skirmishes in different parts of Sulu, as security forces pursue the bandits who are attempting to run away from the intensified operations launched last week, coupled by the deployment of additional forces.
Military Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the latest firefight occurred on Saturday, after elements of the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion encountered at least 30 bandits at Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu, where three ASG members were killed.
The operating troops recovered from the site of the encounter two M-16 rifles and an M-203 grenade launcher.
No casualty from the side of soldiers was reported.
Last Wednesday the bandits beheaded Patrick Almodovar, 18, their captive for exactly a month, after his family failed to pay the P1 million demanded by the terrorists for his release.
The act prompted Duterte to revisit his earlier order to the Armed Forces to “destroy the ASG to the last man,” prodding the military to intensify its operations and send additional troops in Sulu for the campaign.
What followed was a continuing firefight between the bandits and members of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, resulting in the killing of 16 terrorists and the wounding of 17 soldiers.
Arevalo said more casualties from the side of the ASG were also reported, as the bandits moved to evade the intensified operations against them.
Among those killed were ASG subleader Mohammad Said, alias Ama Maas, and his son and two other subleaders.
“Twelve other bandits were killed and scores wounded when they clashed with the elements of the 11th and 12th Scout Ranger companies under the command of Lt. Col. Sammy Manzano on Friday at Barangay Bunkaong, Patikul, Sulu,” Arevalo said.
He said that since this month, security forces in Sulu have been dealing a heavy blow to the ASG in the province, while soldiers were also conducting continued operations against the group in Basilan.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya ordered the military to sustain the tempo of operations against the bandits in Mindanao.
“Let us vigorously pursue these terrorists/bandit Abu Sayaff Group with no letup and destroy them!” he said during a high-level operational briefing.
“As your chief of staff, I am committing all personnel and materiel resources in the AFP inventory necessary for the success of this once and for all mission in our lives as soldiers—to annihilate all ASG members, supporters and sympathizers for the sake of the next generation,” he said.
Present during the operational briefing held by Brig. Gen. Arnel de la Vega, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, were top officials, including Army chief Lt. Gen Eduardo Año; Western Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz; Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander Rear Adm. Jorge Amba; Army’s 501st Brigade commander Col. Jose Faustino Jr.; Marine Provisional Brigade acting commander Lt. Col. Rommel Recinto; and all battalion commanders, ship captains and Air Force commanders in the area of operations.