Duterte visits troops in Basilan
July 21, 2016 | 2:21pm
ISABELA CITY, Philippines -- President Duterte arrived in Basilan Thursday and touched down near the front lines of a battle with the Abu Sayyaf Group that has been raging for more than weeks now.
The presidential helicopter transporting Duterte landed inside the 104th Infantry Brigade camp in Barangay Tabiawan past 1:30 p.m. The president immediately went to the conference room for a closed-door briefing on the ongoing military operation.
Duterte later met with local officials led by Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman.
They took the chance to talk to the troops, but reporters were restricted from taking video and conducting any ambush interviews with the president.
Hataman said Duterte's visit boosted the morale of local government leaders and security forces working to address the Abu Sayyaf problem and complement the development programs which ARMM has been pouring.
An operation was ongoing to flush out more than 200 Abu Sayyaf militants in the mountain of Barangay Magcawa when Duterte visited Basilan, Mayor Lajid Darus of Al-Barka town said.
Darus said the village has become a ghost town as residents have abandoned their homes because of the fighting.
He said the civilians were being harassed by the Abu Sayyaf militants.
“Ongoing ang operation sa area. Hindi tayo basta makapasok dahil sa mga IEDs (improvised explosive devices),” Darus said as he joined local leaders who met with Duterte.
He said the Abu Sayyaf militants were positioned on high ground, which has also made it difficult for troops and the civilian volunteers to enter the area.
Darus said the livelihood of the villagers has also been affected by the presence of the Abu Sayyaf.
“Apektado talaga ang hanapbuhay ng mga tao at parang ghost town na ang Magcawa,” Darus said.
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