Troops Seize Abu Sayyaf Camp in Sulu

Zamboanga City (PNA) –- Government forces have seized a camp of a top Abu Sayyaf leader early Thursday in the hinterlands of Sulu province, a top military official announced.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, said the camp was seized around 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Darayan, Patikul hours after they shelled the encampment.

Arrojado said the camp seized by the troops from the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion belongs to the group of one-armed Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron.

Sahiron is the oldest among the existing leaders of the Abu Sayyaf brigands based in the province of Sulu.

Arrojado said the newly-abandoned camp can accommodate around 300 people.

Arrojado said some of the followers of Sahiron were wounded during the artillery shelling as bloodstains were found in their withdrawal path towards Barangay Danag, also in Patikul.

He said the troops have recovered cooking utensils and parts of an AK-47 rifle. (PNA) JMC/TPGJR