Army activates new Scout Ranger company vs Abu Sayyaf

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Army has activated a new Scout Ranger company in Basilan to step up its drive against lawless elements in the province.

In a statement, Army spokesman Maj. Ronald Alcudia said the 13th Scout Ranger “Warrior” Company was formally activated last Tuesday in a ceremony held at Camp Luis Biel II in Isabela, the capital city of Basilan.

“As part of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, the 13th Scout Ranger Company shall focus on addressing the remaining threats of the Abu Sayyaf group and other terrorists sowing terrorism and chaos in southern Philippines,” Alcudia said.

The newly activated company led by Capt. John Reysanti Aling is under the supervision of the Western Mindanao Command.

Alcudia said members of the company underwent rigorous training at Camp Tecson in Bulacan from January to April to prepare them for the assignment.

“The activation of the 13th Scout Ranger Company is a push forward of the Philippine Army’s desire to strengthen the (anti-insurgency) campaign and to address the demand for strike forces in the counter-insurgency campaign,” he said. 

The military vowed to intensify its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf to sustain its momentum against the group, which suffered setbacks recently with the capture and killing of its key members.

Last February, government troops were able to kill six Abu Sayyaf members, including their senior leader Albader Parad, in a clash in Maimbung, Sulu.

Parad was tagged in a series of abductions, including that of Red Cross workers Marie Jean Lacaba, Italian national Eugenio Vagni, and Swiss national Andreas Notter last year.

In the same month, security forces also nabbed suspected Abu Sayyaf member Jumadail Arad, implicated in the abduction of Protestant missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham in Palawan in 2001.

Suspected sympathizers of the group were also captured recently in separate operations conducted in Taguig City, Zamboanga and Quezon City.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) data show that the military neutralized 50 Abu Sayyaf bandits in 24 encounters during the first five months of the year.

Of the 50 neutralized bandits, the military said 18 were killed, 16 were wounded, one was arrested and 15 were captured in armed encounters.  

“The AFP has effectively curtailed the terror campaign of the Abu Sayyaf. Even so, we are doubling our efforts to surpass this achievement based on a roadmap for the strategic, tactical and categorical defeat of the Abu Sayyaf,” Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr., AFP Civil Relations Service chief, said in a statement.