AFP bombs Abu jungle lair

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