SECURITY forces arrested on Tuesday, November 5, an Abu Sayyaf bandit and recovered 16 pipe bombs being used by suicide bombers during a follow-up operation in the province of Sulu, official said.

Major General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the Abu Sayyaf bandit, a certain Abu Mang, was arrested around 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, more than an hour after three suicide bombers, including two foreigners, were killed in a shootout in Sitio Itawon in Kan Islam Village, Indanan.

Vinluan said the troops from the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion have recovered the 16 pipe bombs when Abu Mang revealed the location of locally assembled improvised explosive device (IED) in a bandit safe house in Paligue Village, Indanan.

The army commander said the recovered unrigged pipe bombs were identical to the IEDs seized from the three suicide bombers slain in the shootout.

Meanwhile, he expressed gratitude to the residents, who provided timely information on the presence of the suicide bombers in their communities.

He said the successful operation against the terrorists on Tuesday manifests that Sulu is no longer a haven for Abu Sayyaf bandits and foreign terrorists.

Lieutenant General Macairog Alberto, Philippine Army chief, has personally congratulated the troops during his visit Wednesday to the 11th Infantry Division Headquarters in Jolo, Sulu. (SunStar Zamboanga)