MANILA, Philippines – The military launched yesterday air
strikes and ground troops attacked a camp of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group in
Patikul, Sulu.
Col. Allan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu
(JTGS) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command, said
the Abu Sayyaf bandits, headed by Hatib Adjan Sawadjaan, retreated deep into
the jungles of Mt. Sinumaan to escape the military operations.
The ground units included troops from the Army’s 35th
Infantry Battalion (IB) with K-9 teams.
The fighting was the first engagement between the military
and the militants since government forces launched the offensive against the
Abu Sayyaf group following the release of German hostages Stefan Viktor Okonek
and his wife Henrike Dielen more than two weeks ago.
Lt. Col. Marces Gayat, commander of the 35th IB, said his
reconnaissance platoon led by 1st Lt. Chester Catapang tracked down about 5 to
10 Abu Sayyaf members at Barangay Bungkaong about 7:20 a.m. yesterday.
Arrojado directed the Philippine Air Force (PAF) MG520
attack helicopters to provide air support to the pursuing troops.
He said the attack helicopters fired rounds of rockets towards
the encampment.
The military said Sawadjaan and his men were reportedly
setting up a camp in Barangay Bungkaung, Patikul the other day.
“As soon as we confirmed their presence in the area and got
all the details needed, an air strike was launched early yesterday with our
MG520 attack helicopters dropping high explosive ordnance munitions on the
bandits’ locations at about 7 a.m.” Arrojado said.
“Our plan really was just to bomb their locations for them
to disperse with our ground troops pursuing them towards Mt. Sinumaan where we
intend to starve them by cutting their supply lines,” Arrojado said.
While confined at Mt. Sinumaan, the Abu Sayyaf will also be
isolated from civilian communities.
The bandits usually force residents to join their group and act
as human shields.
Arrojado added the bandits appeared to have been preparing
for a feast to celebrate the operations involving the German hostages who were
released after ransom was allegedly paid.
“Their advance team composed of around 15 heavily armed
members were monitored to have slaughtered a cow apparently for their scheduled
celebration today,” Arrojado said.
The military said at least 150 Abu Sayyaf members, including
their civilian supporters in Sulu, were involved in the kidnapping of Okonec and
Dielen last April near Mapun Island in Palawan.
After six months in captivity, the German couple that the
Abu Sayyaf threatened to execute was released last Oct. 17 following the
reported payment of P250-million ransom.
Arrojado said there was no reports yet of any casualty from
the air strike but soldiers deployed for blocking operations reported seeing
bloodstains along the main route that the bandits used to escape the military
assault operations. – With Roel Pareño
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