Marines pull out of Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A Marine brigade and two of its battalions have pulled out of Sulu, ending their six-year campaign against Abu Sayyaf bandits in the province.

The 4th Marine Brigade and Marine Battalion Landing Team 8 will be deployed to the Northern Luzon Command while the MBLT-7 will augment the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, according to the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS).

The JTFS led a sendoff ceremony for the Marine units at its headquarters in Barangay Tandu-bato in Luuk town.

The Marine brigade, now headed by Brig. Gen. Vincent Mark Anthony Blanco III, was previously known as the Philippine Marine Ready Force. It had been deployed in Sulu since September 2016 before it was designated as probationary Marine brigade in June 2019.

The Marine units were credited for clearing Abu Sayyaf influence in the municipalities in the second district of Sulu as well as the establishment of a military park as a symbol of peace in their area of operation.

“Your efforts and accomplishment in ending terrorism and keeping the community from the influence of violent extremism contributed to the success of the campaign of Joint Task Force Sulu,” Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said.

The Sulu provincial government expressed its gratitude to the Marines for bringing peace and development in the island province.