Military says they neutralized 352 Abu Sayyaf members in 2017

January 18, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said 352 Abu sayyaf members were neutralized from January 1 to December 31, 2017.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, Westmincom information officer,  said of the total, 128 Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed; 80 apprehended; and, 144 have surrendered.

Petinglay said most of the surrenderees numbering 70 were from Basilan, 53 from Sulu, and 21 in Tawi-Tawi.

Soldiers recovered and seized 223 firearms in 2017 from the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

“Substantial results were achieved through the intensified conduct of combat, intelligence, and civil-military operations launched by the Joint Task Forces within their respective joint area of operations,” she said.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Westmincom chief, said the Joint Task Forces Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi will continue focused military operations to defeat the Abu Sayyaf and other threat groups in their area of operations.

Other threat groups within the area of responsibility of Westmincom are the New People’s Army in Zamboanga Peninsula and Central Mindanao as well as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) also in Central Mindanao. DMS