AFP special force to help fight Abus in Sulu

MANILA, Philippines - Another Special Forces (SF) team will be deployed in Sulu to help fight the Abu Sayyaf, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced Wednesday.

Aside from the SF troops, other military units including the Joint Special Operations Group (JSOG) are in Sulu to augment the government’s anti-terror efforts.

The JSOG fought the Moro National Liberation Front rebels during the Zamboanga siege last year.

“We want to have enough forces to address any threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf here,” said Col. Noel Clement, commander of the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade based in Indanan town. 

Clement said the deployment of additional SF troops was due to the realignment of forces in Mindanao, where most of the Marines deployed there were reassigned to Palawan and Lanao in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Three days ago, the AFP also unleashed a K-9 team in Sulu to help track down the bandits holding captive German couple Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Herike Diesen, 55.

With the SF deployment in Sulu, the troops are expected to take the place of the Marines who will be sent to Palawan.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, AFP Public Affairs Office chief, said with an additional Marine battalion being reassigned to Palawan, the Western Command would have a full Marine brigade to perform its duties.