Troops capture Sayyaf camp in Basilan

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. 

Uy said the troops also recovered personal items and documents believed to be from a Vietnamese captive.

Troops had rescued on Thursday Hoang Vo, one of six Vietnamese sailors abducted by the Abu Sayyaf during a hijacking incident last November off Sibagu Island, according to Uy.

Uy said offensive operation continued as part of the security measure to preempt the return of the group of Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon from Marawi.

Hapilon, the designated emir of the Islamic State-inspired terror group, led the siege on May 23 in Marawi with the Maute group in its attempt to establish a caliphate.

There were speculations that some of the terrorists from Marawi might have slipped military operations and are returning to Basilan or Sulu and other parts of Central Mindanao.

Uy said they were verifying all the information.

The military commander said the pursuit against the Abu Sayyaf  also continued to thwart any plan to return to the island.

“The joint task forces are doing their best to address these concerns, acting jointly with coordination to prevent them from going back,” Uy said.

Uy said the military forces also have a strong coordinative mechanism with local government units who lead the fight against the Abu Sayyaf. 

“In fact, the strong participation led the surrender of close to 80 Abu Sayyaf members now in Basilan,” Uy added.  

Meanwhile, one of Hapilon’s most trusted aides was arrested (not killed as earlier reported) here Saturday afternoon.  

Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said Hamsi Amajad Marani, a bomb expert, was nabbed at Purok 4, Sitio Niyog-Niyog in Barangay Muti.

Joint operating forces of the military and the police in Zamboanga City said the Abu Sayyaf member was spotted by a concerned citizen who immediately notified the authorities.

Marani was tagged as a trained bomber by an Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah bomb expert among Hapilon’s escorts.

Recovered from his possession during the arrest were various paraphernalia used in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Marani was also involved in a series of military encounters against government forces in Sulu and Basilan.

But the military could not say if Marani is with Hapilon in this city or was sent to conduct a diversionary attack.

“This successful operation is done in close coordination with the members of the Zamboanga City Police Office,” Col. Leonel Nicolas, commander of the Joint Task Force Zamboanga, said. 

“The vigilant people of Zamboanga City will never allow any notorious group or individuals to thrive and stay within their peaceful and progressive place,” he added.

The AFP, as of yesterday, said Marani was turned over to the custody of the Zamboanga Police Office to undergo debriefing.  

“I would like to laud our soldiers and policemen for this recent accomplishment,” Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said.

“The capture of Marani will somehow cripple any possible support being given to Hapilon as he struggles to leave Marawi to safety. Your Westmincom forces will continue to hunt down the remaining Abu Sayyaf terrorists until they are incapable of instilling fear in our communities and cities,” he added.

– With Michael Punongbayan