Sabban to head Task Force Comet

The Marine official whose men neutralized Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani in September 2006 is returning to Sulu, this time as commander of the military’s anti-terrorism unit, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said yesterday.

Esperon told reporters that Marine Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, who heads the Basilan-based Task Force Thunder, will take over the Joint Task Force Comet based in Jolo, Sulu on March 8.

Sabban will replace Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael who is set to retire from the military service.

“Gen. Sabban is going back to Jolo where we have two Marine battalions. Remember that in Basilan where he used to be, there was one Marine brigade and one Army brigade so that constituted a joint task force,” he said.

Sabban, as Task Force Thunder chief, was tasked to hunt down those who beheaded 10 of 15 Marines killed in an encounter in Albarkah, Basilan on July 10 last year.

“Now he is going back to Jolo, he has two Marine brigades and two battalions of the Philippine Army. As we know that’s a bigger unit,” Esperon said.

He said Task Force Thunder will be downgraded and eventually deactivated, although the manhunt for the perpetrators of the beheadings would continue. – Roel Pareño