TROOPS have seized war materiel while on combat operation against Abu Sayyaf bandits in the island province of Sulu, military officials announced.
Major General William Gonzales, 11th Infantry Division (ID) commander, said the 2nd Special Forces Battalion’s 4th Special Forces Company seized the war materiel around 2 p.m. Monday, January 18, 2021, in Sitio Andihi in Malimbaya village, Indanan, Sulu.
Gonzalez said the seized war materiel consisted of one speed boat, one M-16 Armalite rifle with attached M-203 grenade launcher, a grenade, seven cellular phones, several magazines and ammunitions and other personal belongings.
Colonel Antonio Bautista, Jr., 1102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the troops were on intelligence-driven combat operation against the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Injimar Mangkabong when they stumbled on the war materiel in Sitio Andihi, Malimbaya village, Indanan.
Bautista said the operation’s success was a product of civilian tipped-off information and can be attributed to the positive collaboration between civilians and the military.
“Continuous operations also constricted the mobility of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists, which forced its members to surrender to the government,” he added.
The 17 Abu Sayyaf bandits who surrendered to the 11ID just last weekend also yielded 10 high-powered firearms.
Gonzales said the confiscation of the Abu Sayyaf war materiel and the recent surrenders are putting the bandit group in a disadvantaged position, as the terrorist groups scramble to fill their dwindling logistical needs while trying to evade the intensified military operations of the government security forces.
“Once again, a kidnapping is foiled. This means no food and no ammunition for the Abu Sayyaf bandits. We are taking this opportunity; the Special Forces is in pursuit and the rest f the 1101st Infantry Brigade troops are on the lookout,” Gonzales said. (SunStar Zamboanga)