SULU, Philippines– Suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf abducted a soldier here at the height of the military operations.
Staff Sergeant Anni Siraji of the 32nd Infantry Battalion of joint Task Force Sulu, was a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) fighter who was among the first batch of integrees to the AFP, was forcibly taken while on his way to Igasan, Patikul, Sulu.
Brig. Gen Cirilito Sobejana, Commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu deployed a platoon from the unit to conduct pursuit at the general area where the abductors fled and alerted all operating troops to conduct pursuit and blocking operations within the immediate vicinity.
Sobejana in a statement said “The recent abduction incident involving our soldier should not be a reason for us to back out but should further motivate us to continue our relentless and sustained focus military operations against the ASG and the rescue of all kidnap victims.”
Patikul Municipality is one of the main target areas of the military offensives for three (3) months now, as it was reported to be a known stronghold of the bandits.
“It is frustrating that a Tausug soldier who wants a peaceful community and is working for it really hard so that an influx of progress will come in his home Province, will have to be a victim of the bandits. Obviously, the Abu Sayyaf can victimize anyone, even someone from their own tribe,” the Western Mindanao Command Chief Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr said.
“Therefore, we are calling on all the people of Sulu to join us in this fight. I firmly believe that as long as we are together on this, we will be able to disallow these bandits to continue creating havoc and fear to everyone,” added Lieutenant General Galvez. “For now, we will continue to hunt the perpetrators and the rest of the Abu Sayyaf.
“We will not stop until we get our soldier back to his family,” the WestMinCom Chief said.-Richard Falcatan
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