The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has fielded some four brigades of seasoned Army and Marines soldiers in Sulu to conduct sustained military operations against some 300 or even fewer of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). Despite the fasting month of Ramadan, the AFP has decided to proceed with their all-out war against the ASG. Major Eugene Batara was quoted by reporters to have issued this statement: “Uubusin nayan, para matapos na.” (Let us finish them off to complete the operation).


The ASG is reported armed, among other calibers, with 90 RR (Recoilless rifles), 57 RR, 50 mm mortars, and M-203 grenade launchers.

The four military outfits are composed of two Marine brigades, one Army’s Special Forces Brigade, and the 104th Brigade. All in all, it is estimated that the number of government troops stationed in the island province reached not fewer than 12,000.

A brigade is a military unit consisting of two or more combat battalions or regiments and associated support units. It is smaller than a division and is commanded by a brigadier general or a colonel. At times, it enjoys aerial and naval supports, as in the case of Sulu.

Commenting on this mammoth presence of troops, one analyst in Jolo told Luwaran by phone that there is an overkill instinct here aimed at wiping out the remnants of ASG.

But he said that as long as the military’s excesses are present, there will always be people who will shoot the AFP here.

He said there are very few ASG in Sulu but those engaging the soldiers in the field are armed civilians who are out to avenge the death of their loved ones from the hands of the military.

Most people of Sulu considered the AFP troops as “occupation forces” and therefore must be ejected out of the island.

Few years ago, the military had pronounced that the ASG was defeated, only to be resurrected that it is threat to the security of the country.

The ASG was founded in early 90s by Abdulrajak Janjalani, a half-Yakan and half-Ilonggo. He studied Islam in Saudi Arabia, proceeded to Libya, and trained in Afghanistan where he got the nom de guere “Abu Sayyaf” or “Father of Sayyaf (sword), obviously in deference to one of the leaders of the Afghan mujahideen, Abdul Rab Rasool Sayyaf.

Source: Luwaran

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