Troops, ships deployed to hunt down Sayyafs
By Bong Garcia
Sunday, March 21, 2010
More Sections
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is deploying elite forces, patrol vessels and gun boats to hunt down Abu Sayyaf bandits in Mindanao, a military official said Sunday.
Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo, Philippine Navy public affairs officer, said the deployment is in line with the guidance of General Delfin Bangit, the newly-installed AFP chief-of-staff.
Click here for Election 2010 updates
Bangit, who recently visited the troops in Mindanao, has issued an order to get the remaining Abu Sayyaf leaders and followers in 60 days.
Arevalo said the Philippine Marine Corps' (PMC) 62nd Force Reconnaissance Company, along with patrol vessels and gun boats, will be deployed to the island province of Basilan, south of Zamboanga City.
He said the elite troops will augment the military forces that are already stationed and continuously hunting down the remaining leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan.
Arevalo said Vice-Admiral Ferdinand Golez, Philippine Navy Flag officer-in-command, will preside over the send-off ceremony on Monday for the deployment of six ships under the Philippine Fleet and the elite troops.
The six ships to be deployed are: BRP Rajah Humabon (PF 11), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS 38), BRP Simeon Castro (PG 374), BRP Apollo Tiano (PG 851), and, BRP General Emilio Aguinaldo (PG 140).
Some of the Navy ships, however, will be deployed in the Visayas Region, Arevalo said.
Golez will be assisted in the send-off ceremony by PMC Major General Juancho Sabban and Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Geronimo Defensor.
Arevalo said that Binibining Pilipinas 2010 winners will also grace the send-off ceremony to help boost the morale of the Sailors and Marines, improving their efficiency in the performance of their duties and responsibilities to the country and the Filipino people.
Arevalo said the deployment of the elite troops and Navy ships is seen as another step to the realization of the Navy’s quest to attain prominence in security operations and support to law-enforcement actions against lawless elements operating in the Visayas and Mindanao.
