Troops arrest Abu Sayyaf, seize pipe bombs

November 7, 2019

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Military troops have arrested an Abu Sayyaf member and recovered 16 pipe bombs for a suicide bombing mission by foreigners and the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.


Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said Thursday apprehended was a certain Abu Mang, whose arrest led to the recovery of 16 pipe bombs.


Vinluan said that the Joint Task Force Sulu troopers corraled Abu Mang in a follow-up operation around 6:10 pm Tuesday in Indanan.


The operation was launched after troops have killed in a shootout three suicide bombers, including two foreigners, around 4:50 pm Tuesday in Sitio Itawon, Barangay Kan Islam, Indanan.


Vinluan said the troops recovered the 16 pipe bombs when Abu Mang “confessed the location of locally assembled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in an Abu Sayyaf safe house in Barangay Paligue, Indanan.”


He said the 16 unrigged pipe bombs recovered by the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion were completely identical to the improvised explosives seized from the three suicide bombers killed in Barangay Kan Islam, Indanan.


Seized from the three slain suicide bombers were two vests rigged with 32 pipe bombs.


Vinluan reiterated his gratitude to the Tausug community, who provided timely information on the presence of suicide bombers in their communities.


“The successful operations against the terrorists on Tuesday manifests that Sulu is no longer a haven for ASG bandits and foreign terrorists. With the strong support of the public, I am confident that we will end the problem with the Abu Sayyaf bandits and foreign terrorists in Sulu” he said.


Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto, Philippine Army chief, congratulated the troops during his visit Wednesday to the 11th Infantry Division Headquarters in Jolo.


Macairog encouraged the troops of the 11th Infantry Division to remain steadfast in their commitment to end the Abu Sayyaf problem in Sulu. Robina Asido/DMS