MANILA – A total of 55 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists were killed during intense military operations from January 1 to September 30 this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday.
In a press statement, AFP public affairs office chief Navy Capt. Jonathan Zata said 78 ASG members also surrendered in Eastern and Western Mindanao.
During the same period, the AFP also arrested six terrorists and seized 97 high and low-powered firearms, seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and nine encampments.
Government forces also rescued a Filipino-American kidnap victim from the bandits on September 30. Rex Susulan Triplitt, a farmer, was rescued by Army troops from the 1st Infantry Division after clashing with the ASG terrorists in Zamboanga del Norte.
“The many successes of our operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group and its affiliate organizations can be attributed to the strong support of the national leadership, interagency cooperation, and the soldiers’ high state of morale,” AFP chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said.
On September, 15 ASG terrorists were killed in focused military operations while 17 surrendered to troops under the Western Mindanao Command and Eastern Mindanao Command.
On September 29, 12 terrorists were killed in operations of the Army troopers of 1st Infantry Division and 9th Infantry Division in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Seized from them were three M-16 rifles, R-4A3 rifle, M-14 rifle, 15 magazines, 250 rounds of ammunition, assorted IED paraphernalia, two motorcycles, bandoliers, backpacks, and solar panels.
In another clash on September 28 in Patikul, Sulu, an ASG member was killed in an encounter with troops from 45th Infantry Battalion.
In an encounter in Zamboanga Sibugay on September 6, Army, Air Force and Navy units fought with the terrorists that resulted in the death of an ASG bandit and capture of three rifle grenades, 30 rounds of ammunition, M-16 rifle magazine, bandolier, 15 assorted empty shells, 20 time fuses, and two blasting caps.
Special Forces troops also killed an ASG member under leader Furuji Indama during an encounter in Hadji Muthamad Ajul, Basilan on September 2.
Meanwhile, the latest surrender was in Patikul, Sulu involved two ASG members who also yielded M-16A1 rifle and M-79 grenade launcher with four rounds to the 6th Special Forces Battalion.
Another eight ASG members surrendered to the 100th Infantry Battalion in Talipao, Sulu on September 23. They also surrendered three Garand rifles, three M-16A1 rifles, an M-203 grenade launcher, and M-79 grenade launcher.
From September 3 to 18, there were seven different surrenders in Sulu and Basilan.
Seized from them were two M-16 rifles, a shotgun, an M-14 rifle loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition, .30 caliber M-1 Garand, M-79 grenade launcher with a round of ammunition and a 9mm weapon with magazine.
Aside from gains against the ASG, the military continues to win against local terrorist groups and their supporters such as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group.
“These local terrorists who operate in the south continue to embrace the Daesh narrative and assimilate its barbarism in the guise of religion. But the peace-loving Filipinos already reject this Daesh violence and have extended their full support to the government and the AFP in its fight against terrorists,” Gapay said.
Since January, 28 BIFF members were killed, 134 surrendered and 20 were captured. Seized from them were 147 firearms, 15 IEDs, and three encampments.
A total of 24 Maute members were killed, 15 surrendered and five were apprehended. Troops also captured 30 firearms, 31 IEDs, and 17 encampments of the group.
“The AFP with the help of all stakeholders and guided by the National Action Plan to Prevent/Counter Violent Extremism, will sustain its momentum against the terror group ASG and other local terrorist groups. We will not tolerate any attempt to sow violent ideologies and will make use of all available technologies to put an end to the spread of violent extremism,” Gapay said. (PNA)
