FOOD PACKS. Former members of the Abu Sayyaf Group receive food packs from the municipal government of Parang, Sulu. The food packs were distributed during the launch of the 'Road to Tourism' program Tuesday (June 28, 2022) graced by Major Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu commander (left). (Photo courtesy of JTF-Sulu) ZAMBOANGA CITY - Aided by the Army's 2nd Special Forces Battalion, the municipality of Parang launched Tuesday the "Road to Tourism" program to change the battle-scarred image of the place into a tourist destination in the Sulu Archipelago. In a statement Wednesday, 2SFBn said the program intends to promote tourism through local media engagements and other social media platforms, as well as provide psychosocial activities for former Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members, their families, and the local community. The initiative also aims to "change the image of the municipality of Parang and the province of Sulu as a whole, from a wa
NOTORIOUS BANDITS. Two 'notorious' members of the Abu Sayyaf Group surrender to the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu Friday (June 17, 2022). One of the two surrenderers says they decided to lay down their arms as they no longer have the support of their former strongholds in the island-province. (Photo courtesy of JTF-Sulu) ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members, one of whom was involved in the beheading of two foreign hostages, surrendered to military authorities in Sulu province on Friday. Major Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu commander, said Mujer Yadah, 55, and Ben Tatto, 41, both based in Indanan, Sulu, surrendered in the provincial capital of Jolo. "The ASG surrenderers also brought with them two M-16 rifles," Patrimonio said in a statement. Patrimonio said Yadah admitted his link with the group of ASG senior leader Majan Sahidjuan alias "Apo Mike" since 2002, and was involved in kidnappings for ransom, bombings,
Google map of Indanan municipality, Sulu province. ZAMBOANGA CITY - Three soldiers were wounded in a clash with Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits while on a security operation in the Sulu municipality of Indanan, military officials said Monday. Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu commander, said the firefight Sunday morning in Barangay Tumatangis, Indanan, broke out while the troops were checking on the reported presence of ASG bandits in the area. "While on their way to the area, they encountered an undetermined number of ASG bandits under ASG leader Radulan Sahiron," Patrimonio said. Patrimonio was unable to release the identities of the injured soldiers but said they belong to the Army's 100th Infantry Battalion. One of the three injured soldiers was taken to Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city, while the other two were admitted to the Camp Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, the province's capital. All three soldiers are in stable conditi
DECEIVED, TIRED. Two Abu Sayyaf Group bandits surrender Tuesday (April 5, 2022) to military authorities in Sulu province, claiming to have realized they were deceived by their leaders. They turned over a Garand rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, a bandolier, and assorted ammunition. (Photo courtesy of the Joint Task Force Sulu) ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two more Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits have surrendered in the province of Sulu after realizing they were deceived by their leaders, a top military official said Wednesday. Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu commander, identified the ASG surrenderers as Abu Udar, 42, and Abu Al, 42, who surrendered Tuesday to the Army's 4th Marine Brigade in Barangay Tandu Bato in Luuk town. Udar, a resident of Panamao town, is a follower of ASG senior leader Radullan Sahiron, while Abu Al of Luuk municipality is a follower of sub-leader Idang Susukan and the late sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya. "Despaired by the terrorist group's dece
ZAMBOANGA CITY - A leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed in a clash with Scout Ranger troopers in Basilan province, a top military official announced Saturday. Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander, identified the slain ASG leader as Razmil Jannatul alias Abu Khubayb. Gobway said Jannatul was killed in a clash Friday afternoon in Sitio Center, Barangay Baiwas in Sumisip town, Basilan. Gobway said the troops of the 5th Scout Ranger Battalion were on combat operation when they clashed with a group of ASG bandits led by Jannatul. He said the firefight lasted for around 15 minutes before the rest of the ASG bandits fled, leaving behind their slain comrade. "While scouring the encounter site, troops recovered the dead body of the ASG personality who was positively identified as Jannatul," Gobway said. Jannatul was a notorious Basilan-based ASG sub-leader who replaced Furuji Indama as the top leader of the group following the latter's dea