Mindanao Armed Conflict

MAGUINDANAO --- Malacañang wants the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu crushed before December 31 this year, the new commander of the Western Mindanao Command said Monday.

“That is what President Duterte wants,” Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said during Monday’s assumption here of Major Gen. Diosdado Carreon as new commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division.

Carreon replaced Sobejana who took over last Friday the leadership of the WestMinCom from the retiring Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega.

Carreon and Sobejana both graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1987.

COTABATO CITY (July 1) – “They started it, we will finish it.”

With these words, the visibly angry newly installed chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, vowed to get back at the terrorist group and let them pay the lawlessness they had just done to nine of his subordinates.

Sobejana vowed to give justice to his fallen soldiers and to let the perpetrators of the twin bomb attacks in an Army base in Indanan, Sulu suffer the same fate.

I am personally outraged by the supposed suicide bombing incident in Indanan,Sulu last June 28. Police report disclosed that at about 12:10 pm of that day, thetactical command post in Manpower, Indanan, Sulu was attacked by two alleged suicide bombers.

It was a senseless act of terror since the attack inflicted multiple casualties andinjuries to innocent civilians. We condemn that act as contrary to cherishedhuman values such as the sanctity and protection of lives, properties andpeaceful living.

ZAMBOANGA CITY - A day after the explosion that transpired at headquarters of 1st Brigade Combat Team in Tanjung, Indanan, Sulu, AFP top officials led by the Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal and the new WestMinCom chief Major General Cirilito Sobejana extended financial and moral support to the wounded victims and bereaved families of those killed, during their visit earlier yesterday (June 29).

COTABATO CITY --- Security in central Mindanao where there are Islamic State-inspired groups is markedly tight since Saturday following the deadly bombing of an Army base in Indanan, Sulu.

The Army’s 6^th Infantry Division and the Bangsamoro regional police have deployed intelligence agents in strategic areas in the region to detect movements of all three factions in the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a known ally of the Abu Sayyaf operating in Sulu.

COTABATO CITY --- The Bangsamoro police and the military are cooperating in identifying the real plotters of Friday’s deadly bombing of an Army base in Indanan town in Sulu.

Three soldiers, three civilians and the two couriers of the improvised explosive device used in the attack perished in the incident.

The Regional Police Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said Saturday 22 others, 10 of them Army personnel, were injured in the explosion.

MAGUINDANAO  --- Hundreds of villagers were displaced by gunfights this week between two groups in the politically troubled Pagalungan town in this province.

The rival factions, one led by Butoh Mantol and the other comprised of followers of defeated mayoral candidate Mokamad Andoy, first fought using assault rifles and grenade launchers in Barangay Cudal in Pagalungan town in Maguindanao early this week, sending hundreds of villagers running for their lives.

SULTAN KUDARAT ---- An adolescent villager was killed while dozens of families got dislocated in a spate of gunfights involving two rival Moro groups in the seaside Palimbang town Friday.

The fatality was identified as Richard Tulik, a high school student.

Reports from the Regional Police Office-12 said the enemy groups, one led by Mike Binago and the other by allies Salik Adam and Tat Tuan, first clashed in Barangay Molon, sending hundreds of villagers running for their lives.

KORONADAL CITY - Kasapi ng Guerilla Front 73 ng New Peoples Army o NPA na kanilang naka-engkwentro ang napatay ng mga kasapi ng militar sa Tupi, South Cotabato.

Ito ang ipinahayag ni 27th IB Commading Officer Lt. Col. Jones Brisal Otida sa panayam ng RAdyo Bida Koroandal.

Ayon kay Otida, nakasagupaan ng nagpapatrolyang tropa ng pamahalaan ang mga myembro ng NPA sa liblib na Sitio ng Pangi, Barangay Lunen,Tupi, South Cotabato.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The military’s Joint Task Force Central has sent the Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 (MBLT-7) to Sulu on Sunday.

The ceremony was held early morning today at Polloc Port in Barangay Polloc, Parang, Maguindanao presided by Major General Cirilito E. Sobejana, Commander Joint Task Force Central being represented by Brigadier General Juvymax R. Uy, Assistant Commander, JTF Central with Major General Alvin A. Parreño, Commandant Philippine Marine Corps.