ZAMBOANGA CITY – Military forces have been ordered to strengthen their monitoring against the remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the province of Sulu.
Maj. Gen. William Gonzales, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu commander, issued the order Tuesday after the movement of ASG members has been monitored in the hinterlands of Patikul, Sulu recently.
Troops of the 6th Special Forces Battalion have recovered two high-powered firearms and other war materiel as well as personnel belongings while checking the reported presence of the ASG bandits on Sunday in Barangay Tanum, Patikul town.
The ASG bandits hurriedly fled upon sensing the arrival of the government troops.
“I directed all military units in the area to intensify further their monitoring in the direction of the fleeing enemies (ASG bandits) and establish blockade on their possible withdrawal routes,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales, who is also the Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID) commander, said the high-powered firearms recovered in Barangay Tanum, Patikul included an M14 rifle and an M16 rifle with ammunition.
He said the troops also recovered a bandolier, a solar panel, seven assorted subscriber identification module (SIM) cards, a hammock, backpack, combat shirt, poncho, a Qur’an, alcohol, combs, scissors, nail cutter, and face mask.
Gonzales noted that the movements of the bandit group came a few days after two ASG members have surrendered in Barangay Bonbong, Patikul.
Jumsa Sari and his brother, Aizal, have surrendered and handed over two Garand rifles on February 3 to the 1103rd Infantry Brigade based in Patikul.
Gonzales said the two surrenderers have admitted to having participated in the September 21, 2015 kidnapping of foreigners and Filipinos in the Island City of Samal, Davao del Norte. (PNA)
