GOVERNMENT security forces have captured two well-fortified camps of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) as well as recovered explosives in the municipality of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan province.
Major Filemon Tan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman, said one of the camps was captured on Monday and the other on Sunday.
Tan said the camp that was captured on Monday is located at Hill 355 in the village of Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo.
The camp captured on Sunday is situated at Hill 400 in the village of Baguindan, also in Tipo-Tipo.
Tan said the camp at Hill 355 has 10 bunkers measuring 4x4x5 feet that can accommodate more or less seven people, four tunnels that can be occupied by 20 people, several foxholes that can be occupied by eight people, a kitchen hut, and one exit post.
Tan said the troops of the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion under Joint Task Force Basilan have recovered two improvised bombs with the following components: a 60-millimeter mortar cartridge, a plastic bottle with ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO), sharp nails, coins, one nine-volt battery, one small plastic box, wires, switch, and an improvised electric blasting cap.
Tan added the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (EODT) declared the camp cleared of explosive booby traps around 2:21 p.m. Monday. The troops left the area and established defensive position in the village of Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo.
He said the fallen camp at Hill 440 served as security outpost and is ASG’s vital mobility and to intimidate nearby communities.
The combined assault from the Special Forces, other elite counter terrorism units, and Light Armor Cavalry Troops, with support from massive artillery fires, forced the Abu Sayyaf bandits to abandon their stronghold at Hill 440 which is fortified with seven foxholes, 12 bunkers capable of accommodating at least 80 people.
Tan said the troops also recovered three unexploded ordnances and several Improvise Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the area.
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Bacala, Jr., Army’s 4TH Special Forces Battalion commander, said the ensuing operations that resulted to the capture of the Abu Sayyaf strongholds liberated the populace of Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo and Bohe Piang, Al-Barka.
Bacala said they have infiltrated since last month strategic communities in the operational area, extending to three municipalities.
Bacala said the troops effectively earned the trust of the local populace to support ongoing military operations utilizing the elite 12-man team to conduct mass base operations and harness popular support.
Tan said that prior to the taking of the stronghold, the almost month-long operations yielded to more or less a total of 45 ASG members killed as per intelligence reports and body counts, and a caliber .50 machine gun recovered along with several IEDs.