ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) has received augmentation force to beef up its focused military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the province of Sulu, officials said Monday.
Col. Gerry Besana, Westmincom information officer, said the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT) of the Philippine Army arrived Sunday in this city in preparation for their deployment in Sulu.
Besana said the 1BCT, led by Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Imbang Jr., was deployed here by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) purposely to conduct focused military operations against the ASG in Sulu.
"The AFP, through the Westmincom, will now again focus on the campaign against terrorism and violent extremism after the successful conduct of the midterm elections," the military official said.
He added that the deployment of the additional troops also intends to add to the required personnel and equipment of the newly activated army’s 11th Infantry Division.
Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief, said they expect to sustain the fight against the lawless group.
“Now that our troops have been augmented, we are expecting more gains in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf Group that has been sowing terror, death, and destruction in Sulu,” he said. (PNA)
