Military scales down offensive vs Sayyaf

The Philippine Star 05/05/2006

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Government troops have scaled down their tactical offensive in Sulu to adapt to the Abu Sayyaf’s strategy of mobility, but military operations are continuing.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga flew to Sulu Thursday to assess the new tactical offensive mode adapted by government troops.

Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, 3rd Marine Brigade commander based in Patikul, Sulu, said they are now more on "lower intensity conflict" in synchronization with the civil-military operations.

"Special operations units are more effective now, using lesser number of people to do the job better than a larger unit," he said.

Sabban said military operations are continuing and that they have been focusing on selective targets "to avoid collateral damage."

"We have shifted to this kind of operation in order not to displace civilians," he said.

Sabban said the synchronization of their small unit operations with civil-military operations is one way of telling the people they are doing all the projects "but we are still after the high value targets."

"Though we have fewer encounters, these encounters are decisive and we have experienced the surrender of Abu Sayyaf members who are convinced that the operations we are doing there are pro-people," he said.

The small scale tactics has proven effective in Sulu where the villagers are beginning to become more responsive, Sabban said.

Maj. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, 1st Tabak Division commander, whose unit sends troops to the Sulu-based military brigade, said they are ready to deploy additional soldiers when needed.

So far there is enough force in Sulu to run after the Abu Sayyaf, he added.

Brig. Gen. Reu Lucio Samaco, 3rd Tactical Operation Wing commander, said combat aircraft have been used "perfectly" in the small scale offensive, especially in night operations where pilots have been trained by US Special Forces.

"Our aircraft have now developed night capability and can perform any mission at night to complement our ground forces," he said.

The scaling down of troops was a result of the capability upgrade under the anti-terror training by the US military.

At least two brigades are based in Sulu — the 104th Army Brigade and the 3rd Marine Brigade — running after about 500 Abu Sayyaf terrorists belonging to several factions.

Among the terrorist figureheads are Radulan Sahiron, Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula, Ismin Sahiron, Albader Parad, and even Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffi Janjalani who was reportedly sighted in Sulu.

The Sulu Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (SPDCC) reported that more that 15,000 villagers were displaced in 2005 alone, following attacks by the Abu Sayyaf and breakaway factions of jailed Muslim leader Nur Misuari.

In 2000, more than 100,000 were also displaced when government forces launched operations against the Abu Sayyaf who snatched 21 tourists from Sipadan off Sabah and brought them to Sulu. — Roel Pareño

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200605050416.htm