SOLDIERS fighting the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and more than 300 Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu have been ordered to pursue the two groups in order to at least degrade their capabilities to carry out future atrocities.
The order was issued by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, who wanted the capabilities of the two groups to carry out criminal activities, including terrorism, clipped before he leaves the service next year.
“I want to significantly lessen the bandits’ ability to carry out violent attacks against civilians before I retire in July 2015.”
He said the soldiers must also ensure that collateral damage is minimized.
Members of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division attacked the positions of BIFF fighters at Barangay Kabasalan, Pikit, North Cotabato, last week following the latter’s clashes with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that have forced thousands of residents to flee their homes.
While the soldiers pounded the BIFF with artilleries and howitzers in North Cotabato, Scout Rangers and Special Action Force (SAF) also assaulted more than 300 ASG members in Patikul, Sulu, triggering running skirmishes for days.
The soldiers reported to have killed 24 ASG bandits as of Saturday, while two of their colleagues have also died. A total of 30 from both sides have also been wounded in the fighting.
Military Spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said the fighting “seemed to have ebbed” on two fronts on Sunday, with the soldiers pursuing three Malaysian terrorists and ASG Cmdr. Radullan Sahiron.
The number of ASG members in Sulu has swelled over the past days after ASG members from Basilan traveled to the island province purportedly to escape military operations ordered earlier by Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin.
The military said Sahiron was apparently wounded in one of the skirmishes with the Rangers scouring the hinterland villages of Patikul.
The Rangers reported spotting three Malaysians with the ASG and accusing them to be members of the regional terror group Jema’ah Islamiyah.
In Maguindanao soldiers said they have cleared after the clashes in Datu Unsay on Friday the Tacurong-Cotabato highway earlier occupied by the BIFF.
Three soldiers were wounded during the three-hour firefight, while reports indicated that three lieutenants of Abdul Basit Usman were also killed.
More soldiers were also deployed to the Liguasan marsh on Sunday, the AFP reported.