Southcom deploys anti-terror experts to combat Abu Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Armed Forces Southern Command has deployed experts on anti-terror tactics as it strengthens its operations against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, military officials said yesterday.

Maj. Gen. Triponio Salazar, chief of the 1st Army Division based in Western Mindanao, announced the installation of Col. Daniel Casabar as the new anti-terror Task Force Zamboanga chief vice Col. Alexander Yapching.

Casabar was the former deputy commander of the Special Operation Command (SOCOM), an elite force in the military specializing in anti-terror combat operation.

Casabar was also the former operations officer of the 103rd Army Brigade based in Basilan that evicted the group of Khadaffi Janjalani and his deputy combat commander Isnilon Totoni Hapilon.

Meanwhile, Yapching has led the arrest of several Abu Sayyaf members and supporters during his term at the Task Force Zamboanga.

"I am proud to say we have built the good support from the local residents in the fight against presence of terrorists who are trying to breed their kind in this place," Yapching said.

He cited people’s cooperation in the immediate arrest of five bombers who perpetrated the Malagutay bombing last Oct. 2 that killed a US Special Force member and two civilians and wounded 24 others including another US Special Force, who also died days later.

Yapching said the anti-terror task force also prevented possible kidnapping attempts by Abu Sayyaf and other organized Muslim rebel groups in this city.

Yapching will assume the leadership of the 104th Army Brigade Command, a military unit that is running after the Abu Sayyaf group and the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) in Sulu.

The military here has been hunting down the evasive bandit groups of Galib Andang alias Commander Robot, Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula, and Radulan Sahiron alias Commander Putol, the group who notoriously figured in the Sipadan hostage taking two years ago.

Meanwhile, an indignation rally was held in Lamitan town in Basilan yesterday to show support to the government’s efforts in flushing out the bandits in the island province.

Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Roy Kyamko said the rally is part of the awareness campaign of the government to prevent the terrorist groups from breeding in the community.