Military launches offensive against Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Artillery shells and rockets from helicopter gunships rained on Abu Sayyaf jungle positions in Patikul, Sulu on Tuesday in what the military said was an execution of President Duterte’s order for an all-out offensive against the terror group, following the Jolo cathedral bombing last weekend.

The air strikes followed a ground offensive that began within days of Duterte’s issuing the order after visiting last Monday the bombed-out Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo.

Two MG520 attack helicopters unleashed rockets and heavy machine gun fire as 30 Abu Sayyaf members were reportedly spotted in the mountain jungle in Barangay Latih.

The military also pounded the Abu Sayyaf positions with several rounds of 105mm howitzer shells.

Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman and civil military operation chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the offensive began Tuesday morning after ground troops detected the presence of 30 Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the thickly forested area.

He said ground troops sought air and artillery support after encountering difficulty penetrating the thick vegetation.

“Air sorties were conducted and nine rockets and machine gun fire support were launched against the position of the Abu Sayyaf,” Besana said.

Authorities said an Abu Sayyaf-linked group called Ajang-ajang was also using the forested areas as temporary base.

Besana said there was still no report of casualty on the side of the government, especially ground troops.

The Westmincom spokesman also emphasized the ongoing offensive would not affect civilian communities.

“Our ground forces are very much aware of the safety of the community and it will not just launch any bombardment if the area if inhabited by civilian community,” Besana pointed out.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Westmincom chief, vowed an intensified military operation until the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu is obliterated.

“Expect that, with the pronouncement of the Commander-in-Chief, we will intensify our focused military operations to pound down the remaining terrorists and penetrate strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu,” Dela Vega said.

‘Persons of interest’

As this developed, four people tagged as “persons of interest” in the Jolo cathedral bombing last Sunday yielded to authorities yesterday to deny involvement in the carnage. Two of them were caught on CCTV appearing like they were detonating the bombs using cellphone.

In Manila, Rep. Edcel Lagman said the latest terror activities should not be used as justification for another martial law extension.

“The bombing incident has been explicitly categorized as a terrorist attack by no less than President Duterte, the military and police leadership and administration officials, and not an act pursuant to an alleged rebellion in Mindanao,” he said.

For Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, the situation would have been worse without martial law.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino pushed for the strengthening of the Human Security Act of 2007.

Malacañang, through spokesman Salvador Panelo, said the latest violence would not stall the quest for peace and progress in Mindanao. “The movement to change the face of Mindanao and the oppressive conditions affecting its people shall move forward despite these acts of terrorism,” he said.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines will unleash its might and weaponry against these enemies of the state and hunt them ferociously and relentlessly until the law rolls down its guillotine on them,” he maintained.

ISIS role

For defense chief Delfin Lorenzana, there is a possibility the Islamic State is instigating violence so it could paint a picture of a religious war between Christians and Muslims in the country.

“It’s not that farfetched,” he told reporters at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

Fortunately, he said, Filipino Christians – especially Catholics – and mainstream Muslim groups are not taking the bait. He also said no connection has been established so far between the Jolo cathedral blasts and the mosque grenade attack.

He also stressed the “suicide bombing” angle has not been established yet.

“The theory of suicide bombing or not is hanging in the air. It appears to be a suicide bombing because there were many body parts. They are still waiting for confirmation,” he said.

He also admitted getting the same information received by President Duterte on the possible involvement of a Yemeni couple in the Jolo blasts. He said the information was from Rohan Gunaratna, a Singaporean analyst on security affairs.

Rep. Jericho Nograles, designated caretaker-representative of the first district of Sulu since September 2016, proposed that investigators check the bodies of two victims in the bombing of the Jolo cathedral to verify reports it was carried out by suicide bombers.

“If the DNA tests will confirm that these severed heads belong to foreign nationals, then we have to call the attention of the Bureau of Immigration to make necessary precautions, as well as the Coast Guard and Navy to implement all that is necessary to prevent entry in the ‘backdoors’ of the archipelago,” he said.

The latest terror attacks drew both condemnation and calls for sobriety from Muslim and Christian religious groups.

“We call on all sober minds to lead in this volatile situation,” Yasser Apion, legal adviser of the Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula (UCZP) said at a gathering in Sta. Barbara Masjid. “Nothing could be more evil than shedding innocent blood inside God’s abode.”

“It’s un-Islamic and we are strongly condemning it,” Abdulrauf Decampong, an official of the Koronadal City Grand Mosque, told The STAR in an interview in Koronadal City.

Sultan Tungko Saikol, assistant regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, called the perpetrators of the attacks “satanic people.” – With Michael Punongbayan, Edith Regalado, Delon Porcalla, Emmanuel Tupas, Ramil Bajo, Christina Mendez, Jess Diaz, Cecille Suerte Felipe