MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Marines Corps (PMC) is sending another battalion to Sulu to help in the operations against Abu Sayyaf bandits in the province and nearby areas.
Capt. Felix Serapio Jr., PMC spokesman, said the 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8) is ready for deployment in Sulu after a nine-month training in Manila.
“In line with the directive of President Duterte to finish the bandit group, the MBLT-8 will be deployed,” Serapio said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines had earlier deployed its newly activated 11th Infantry Brigade in Sulu.
Prior to their retraining, the MBLT-8, with its headquarters in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, was assigned to secure the country’s maritime and territorial waters in the north.
Aside from the MBLT-8, two battalions of the Philippine Marine Ready Force are also in Sulu. They are operating under the Joint Task Force Sulu.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation said six Abu Sayyaf bandits with pending warrants for kidnapping, serious illegal detention and kidnapping were recently arrested in Taguig, Bataan and Zamboanga City.
The bandits were identified as Azmier Maalum, Sonny Abubakar, Musa Sampang, Jamil Ibrahim, Yong Amin and Majuk Tahil. – Rey Galupo