Troops bombard Abu Sayyaf with artillery, seize new camp in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Government troops launched a ground offensive and seized a camp of the Abu Sayyaf group in the mountain of Patikul town, Sulu.

Col. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS), said an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf bandits appeared to had been wounded following heavy artillery bombardment in Sitio Darayan.

Arrojado said the troops from the 32nd Infantry Battalion (IB) were conducting a daylong tracking when they noticed lights flashing near their position about 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The intelligence unit confirmed that it was a group of Abu Sayyaf bandits moving towards the Darayan direction.

According to Arrojado, the intelligence unit believed it was a big Abu Sayyaf group establishing a new camp with more or less 300 members, led by Radullan Sahiron and Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

“The troops initially unleashed six rounds of 81mm mortars towards the Abu Sayyaf position, that was about 400 meters away from their location, and succeeded with another rounds of artillery fires about 11:30 p.m.,” Arrojado said.

The troops conducted clearing operation about 5 a.m. Thursday and seized the camp that was forcibly abandoned by the militants.

According to Arrojado, troops noticed bloodstains in the area, indicative that the attack inflicted casualties. They also recovered a damaged AK47 rifle and other war paraphernalia.

Arrojado immediately directed two Army battalions of the 32nd and 35th IB to conduct pursuit operation while troops from the 1st and 4th Scout Ranger Battalions (SRB) were instructed to lead blocking operations on all possible withdrawal routes.