The combined operations involved Special Forces, elite counterterrorism units, armor and artillery, the Westmincom said. File photo
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Government forces have captured two fortified camps of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan after close to a month of fighting, military officials said Tuesday.
The fall of the Abu Sayyaf strongholds came after weeks of operations that left 45 bandits killed based on body counts and an undetermined wounded in the areas of Tipo-Tipo town.
The latest to fall was on Hill 355 in Barangay Silangkum, Tipo-Tipo, which Army Special Forces captured on Monday.
Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesperson of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the captured stronghold at Hill 355 had fortified bunkers, tunnels and foxholes. The camp, which could accomodate close to 200 fighters also had a kitchen hut and an exit post.
The Army 4th Special Forces Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Andrew Bacala, recovered two improvised explosive devices from the Abu Sayyaf position. The IEDs were rigged as booby traps to delay government forces.
Troops have established defensive positions in the camp to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from coming back.
Tan said troops under Joint Task Force Basilan also seized an Abu Sayyaf camp on Hill 440, or Kawilan Hill, in Barangay Baguindan Proper on Sunday.
“The terrain served to secure Abu Sayyaf’s vital mobility and to intimidate nearby communities,” Tan said.
He said the combined assault forces from the Special Forces, elite counterterrorism units, light armor and artillery forced the Abu Sayyaf to abandon the camp, which had seven foxholes and 12 bunkers that could accommodate around 80 fighters.
Bacala said the capture of the camps will mean residents of Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo and Bohe Piang of Al-Barka town who have been displaced by the fighting can come home.
The military lauded the local government units that spearheaded the operations to evacuate affected areas after a meeting with Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman.
“The troops’ operation became more effective with the strong backing of the local government units,” Tan said.
