The pullout of Army troops in the island province of Sulu could lead to the deactivation of the military’s anti-terrorism unit, which raised fears among local residents that it could lead to a resurgence of attacks by the notorious Abu Sayyaf group, a source said Tuesday.
The source told The STAR in a phone interview Tuesday that the initial pullout of the 33rd Infantry Battalion from Jolo last month is part of the gradual phaseout of the Joint Task Force Comet by 2010, which is leading operations against the Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group.
“The locals have expressed apprehension that the Abu Sayyaf could stage bolder attacks if the task force is deactivated,” he said.
But the source said Marine forces tasked to take the place of the 33rd IB, would have the responsibility of fighting the Abu Sayyaf and their Jemaah Islamiyah cohorts.
Task Force Comet is being given assistance by the US military, in the form of technical intelligence.
“They are planning to implement the Fleet-Marine concept in the operations against the ASG, which for a period of time, has been laying low. All of the encounters in the area were government initiated,” the source said.
The military, under Oplan Ultimatum 2, is running after the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf, and some 20 JI terrorists, who are running around the hinterlands of Indanan and Patikul in the island province.
Indonesian bomb experts Dulmatin, who goes by one name, and Umar Patek have reportedly turned to the group of Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, fearing betrayal by bandit commanders Radullan Sahiron, Albader Parad and Abu Pula.
A military source said earlier that the foreign terrorists fear they might be “sold”, considering the huge amount being offered by the US government for their neutralization.