THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front and some civilian volunteers helped the military seize two temporary encampments of the Abu Sayyaf Group in separate operations at the outskirts of Albarka town in Basilan province.
Army Major Felimon Tan, spokesman of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, said the two camps seized were situated in Sitio Bohe Buug, Barangay Macalang and Akbar, both in Albarka, Basilan, a known ASG-infested area.
Tan said the two ASG camps were being used by the bandits as temporary shelters preceding their terrorist activities.
Prior to the seizure of ASG camp, Army troops of the Charlie Company of the Army’s 18th Infantry battalion and a barangay security team from Sumisip, Basilan clashed with about 20 bandits last Saturday.
On Sunday, security forces from 18th IB and some 200 militiamen from Sumisip, Tuburan, Akbar and Albarka also assaulted an ASG concentration leading to the seizure of another camp.
As the assault team were clearing the two encampments, an improvised explosive device went off, wounding two militiamen. They were rushed to Zambaonga City hospital for treatment.
After the assault, the contingent recovered a cadaver of a suspected bandit following the clash.
At least twenty MILF members have joined the military-led anti-terrorist operations in Albarka, Basilan, even as the MILF vowed to pledge support to security forces against the ASG.
Last Thursday, two ASG bandit were killed in a massive military operations in Albarka, Basilan.
Tan said the MILF decided to join the military in its operations against the ASG aimed at driving away the bandits from securing sanctuary in their camps especially in the aftermath of fierce encounter with Army troops.
“Actually, it’s the decision of the MILF because they don’t like ASG elements roaming around their areas pretending to be MILF and fed-up with the ASG’s tactics. The MILF was forced to drive them away,” Tan said.
He said the aftermath of the seizure of two ASG camps prompted the ASG to splintered in different groups while security forces has established blocking forces to interdict ASG’s on the run.