ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — More military equipment will be deployed in Sulu to help ground forces defeat Abu Sayyaf bandits and neutralize foreign terrorists hiding on the island.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Noel Clement announced during his visit to the Western Mindanao Command last week the acquisition for the Light Armor Battalion of additional C-130s and the arrival of a C295 personnel transport plane, attack helicopters, a Navy warship and armored tanks, which are equipped with sophisticated weapon systems that can hit long-range targets, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom chief, said.
More military equipment will arrive as part of the AFP modernization program, Clement said.
“Once the AFP declares the new equipment as mission-capable, it will be deployed in Westmincom to help ground forces address threat groups,“ Sobejana said.
He said the AFP chief’s assurance and support boosted the morale of ground forces, given President Duterte’s order to neutralize Abu Sayyaf bandits before the end of this year.
Sobejana said Clement also ordered pursuit operations for the remaining foreign terrorists being coddled by Abu Sayyaf bandits to prevent them from staging suicide bombings.
”We do not want these activities to occur in Sulu or any part of the country,” Clement told government troopers.