20 June 2017

News Story: Troops capture Sayyaf camp in Basilan

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
By Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – Government forces captured an Abu Sayyaf camp in Basilan Friday following intense air and ground strikes aimed to prevent the militants from providing refuge to members of the Maute terror group who might slip out of Marawi City, a security official said.

Col. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Basilan (JTFB) head, said ground forces from the 4th Special Forces Battalion under Lt. Col. Andrew Bacala overran the Abu Sayyaf lair at the border of Ungkaya Pukan town.

Uy said the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Furuji Indama and Radzmil Janatul retreated and abandoned their camp with heavy casualties. 

The government forces launched heavy artillery and air strikes Thursday that were subsequently followed by assault from ground troops.

Bacala said he noticed 42 makeshift huts and the surroundings with heavy bloodstains and littered human flesh, an indication of heavy casualties from the Abu Sayyaf.

The soldiers also recovered four high-powered firearms – two M16 rifles, a Baby Armalite rifle and an M1 Garand – four sacks of rice, solar panels and improvised bomb components. 

Read the full story at PhilStar