Military seizes bomb-making material in Sulu

By CNN Philippines Staff

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 17)— The military recovered nearly a ton of a bomb-making inputs during an operation in Sulu on Saturday.

In a statement Tuesday, the Joint Task Force Sulu said authorities have seized at least 700 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and another bomb component, an 81-mm mortar fuse in Barangay Latih in Patikul town over the weekend.

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Source: cnnphilippines.com

1 dead, 4 injured in Abu Sayyaf encounter in Basilan — military


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 14)
 — An armed militia man was killed while four civilians were wounded in an encounter Sunday in Basilan with unidentified men believed to be Abu Sayyaf group members, the military said.

The Western Mindanao Command reported that at around 8 a.m., a barangay peacekeeping action team outpost at Sitio Bohe Pahut, Barangay Central Sumisip was harassed by reported Abu Sayyaf members under sub-group leader Pasil Bayali.

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Source: cnnphilippines.com

Marine battalion off to Sulu to beef up hunt for terrorists

ZAMBOANGA CITY –– A Marine battalion has been deployed to Sulu to beef up the government’s security presence in the province, rocked by recent bombings in a military facility, and grappling with a long-running bout with terrorists.

Their mission: “Destroy the Abu Sayyaf … and establish a peaceful and stable environment in Sulu,” said Rear Admiral Erick Kagaoan, commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao.

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Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Westmincom to focus on Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The new leadership of the military’s Western Mindanao Command will rest the weight of its campaign in Sulu, considered among the remaining problem areas in Mindanao, its outgoing commander Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega said.

Dela Vega, who opted for early retirement from the service, will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana in a change of command ceremony on Friday.

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Source: philstar.com

Abus snatch, kill retired gov’t employee in Sulu

Roel Pareño

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  —  Suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits killed a retired government employee they seized in Patikul, Sulu on Sunday. 

The bandits also reportedly ransacked the house of Kirah Tiblan in Sitio Lingon Gitung, Barangay Igasan before setting it on fire.

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Source: philstar.com

Troops recover Abu Sayyaf arms cache

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Government troops recovered an arms cache belonging to Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in an island off Sulu province, a top military official said Wednesday.

Major Gen. Divino Rey Pabayo, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the arms cache was discovered in Minis Island, Patikul, Sulu at about 7:45 a.m. Monday.

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Source: pna.gov.ph

AFP to deploy 1st Brigade Combat Team in Sulu for anti-ASG ops

By Priam Nepomuceno

MANILA — The military will deploy the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT) to Sulu in line with ongoing efforts to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists.

“Now that the election period is over and national candidates have been proclaimed, we are redeploying forces to security challenged areas like Sulu Archipelago for focused military operations,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in an interview with reporters Thursday.

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Source: pna.gov.ph

3 Abu Sayyaf killed in Sulu encounter — AFP

By: Frances Mangosing

MANILA, Philippines — Three members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were believed to be killed in an encounter with the Philippine Marines in Sulu, the military said Monday.

Troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 clashed with undetermined number of bandits under sub-leader Najir Arik in Simisa Island in Banguigui on Sunday, the Western Mindanao Command said.

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Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Troops kill 3 militants in clashes in southern Philippine islands

MANILA, March 20 (Xinhua) — Philippine troops have killed three militants, including an alleged Abu Sayyaf sub-leader, in two separate clashes in the jungles of Jolo island in southern Philippine provinces of Sulu and Basilan, the military said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the military said Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Angah Ajid and another militant, Sarih Edris, were killed during a firefight that broke out on Tuesday in a remote village of Talipao town.

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Source: xinhuanet.com

2 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed, another captured

By BONG GARCIA

TWO Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while another was captured in separate clashes in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said no casualty was reported on the government side in both clashes. The Abu Sayyaf bandits are on the run. 

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Source: sunstar.com.ph