US commander checks on terror drive in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The commander of the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) visited Sulu Thursday to personally assess the security situation in the province where local military forces are battling the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

SOCOM chief Gen. Bryan Brown arrived in this port city and had a meeting with Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) officials before proceeding to Jolo.

Brown met with Marine Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Westmincom deputy chief, to discuss the security situation in Sulu where around 7,000 troops under Oplan Ultimatum are hunting the Abu Sayyaf and JI militants.

Sabban formerly headed the 3rd Marine Brigade, the military unit that neutralized Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani late last year.

Brown refused to make any statement after the meeting but spokesman Maj. John Redfield, public affairs officer of the US Joint Special Operation Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), confirmed the visit to Jolo.

"He (Brown) will meet with the US forces there and hear from Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael of the situation in Sulu," Redfield said.

Brown’s visit in Jolo came barely a day after military forces battled with the Abu Sayyaf and killed four militants.

Two soldiers were also killed while 10 others were wounded in the encounter at Barangay Marang, Indanan town on Wednesday.

The US forces are assisting local military forces in defeating the Abu Sayyaf militants who are sheltering Asia’s most wanted JI bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek.

The military has also been verifying reports that another JI leader, Malaysian-born Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, has been hiding in Sulu.

The US government has posted a $5-million reward for the capture of Zulkifli, who is believed to have been hiding in the Philippines since August 2003.

Zulkifli is among the other senior JI members who have been on the run. He is the current leader of Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) but has sought refuge in Mindanao.