Government deploys more tanks vs Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Government forces are gearing up for the fight against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu with tanks and armored vehicles sent in to support the offensive.

Lt. Col. Charlemagne Batayola, commander of the 1st Cavalry Squadron, said the additional armor would reinforce the Light Cavalry troops already deployed in Sulu.

The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) had deployed about two brigades composed of 7,000 soldiers supported by companies of elite troops from the Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

“This is our full complement for the ground troops to help crush the Abu Sayyaf,” Batayola said.

He added a battery of howitzer cannons were sent in to support the troops in the theater of operations.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the thousands of troops deployed in Sulu have been preparing for the massive attack against the Abu Sayyaf.

On top of the 5,000 troops already based in Sulu and 2,500 in Basilan, the AFP has pulled out troops from the Visayas, Luzon and other areas of Mindanao and deployed them to Sulu and Basilan with the specific mission to seek and destroy the Abu Sayyaf.

Arevalo said the troops are now prepared to run down the bandits with the support of artillery, along with naval and air assets.

“Massive combat operations are underway,” Arevalo said.

Arevalo said all military units have specific tasking, with the ground assault being spearheaded by more than 5,000 troops.

The Philippine Air Force is providing close-air support to the ground troops as well as conducting aerial patrol.

The Philippine Navy deployed assets to surround the islands of Sulu to prevent the bandits from escaping as well as to deny them support from the outside.

Last Monday, three speedboats reportedly being used by the bandits were intercepted off the coastal town of Maimbung.

Arevalo said the military pressure forced the bandits to break up into smaller groups in the attempt to blend with the villagers.

The military had warned groups and villagers against helping the bandits, saying they would be considered as enemies of the state.

Crisis

Security forces were also placed under alert in Zamboanga City as well as in President Duterte’s hometown of Davao City against the possibility of diversionary attacks by the Abu Sayyaf.

The Philippine Coast Guard also placed all its personnel nationwide on alert at the seaports and harbors.

Duterte is bracing for possible retaliation from the Abu Sayyaf following his directive to intensify military offensives against the local terrorist group.

The assault that began in the remote jungles of Patikul last week has met fierce resistance.

Fifteen troops were killed and another 10 injured in a single encounter with the Abu Sayyaf last Monday.

It was a setback for the military after 22 Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed in initial clashes earlier last week.

Police reported yesterday that four fighters of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) helping government troops were killed in clashes with the Abu Sayyaf in Indanan.

Police said four Abu Sayyaf gunmen were also killed in clashes last Friday.

The military offensive also has its downside, as a humanitarian crisis is developing.

Some 1,275 families or more than 6,000 individuals were forced to abandon their villages to avoid being caught in the crossfire.  – With Jaime Laude, Marvin Sy