AFP OVERRUNS ABU TRAINING CAMP IN SULU
ZAMBOANGA CITY, MAY 1, 2008 (STAR) By Roel Pareño — Government troops overran yesterday a training camp and bomb-making facility of the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants after military forces bombarded the terrorist enclave with air strikes and artillery fire in a remote jungle in Indanan, Sulu, a military official reported.Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the anti-terrorist Task Force Comet, said the ground forces seized the camp before noon at sitio Kandilamon, Barangay Cagay in Indanan.
“The troops overran the JI and Abu Sayyaf bomb-making and training facility shortly before noon following the air strike launched by our forces,” Sabban said.
Sabban said one member of the Marines sustained superficial wounds in the legs after ground units attacked the rebel camp after the artillery barrage.
He said the troops recovered several documents, cellular telephones, and some explosives.
“The artillery fire directly hit the base that resulted to the explosion of volumes of explosives used by the terrorists in bomb-making,” Sabban said.
The military staged another major operation against suspected JI and Abu Sayyaf rebels, attacking with rockets and howitzers the bomb facility and training camp Wednesday after the terrorists’ base was confirmed.
Combined units of the Light Reaction Company (LRC), Army Special Forces of the Joint Special Operation Group (JSOG), and the 3rd Marine Brigade attacked the rebel base.
Maj. Eugene Batara Jr., spokesman for Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said MG-520 attack helicopters fired rounds of rockets against the fortified Abu Sayyaf and JI position.
“Rounds of 105 mm howitzers were also delivered to soften the militants’ positions,” Batara said.
He said there were reports of casualties among the militants but the information is still being verified.
The training and bomb-making facility was monitored following more than a month of surveillance.
Military sources disclosed that the bomb-making facility of the JI and Abu Sayyaf was discovered with the technical surveillance assistance from the US military deployed in the area.
Batara said the military received information that the bomb-making facility and training camp was run by the JI’s Umar Patek and Abu Sayyaf’s Radullan Sahiron.
Sources said that the Abu Sayyaf group was led by a young radical leader identified as Albader Parad.
Patek and Dulmatin, both Indonesian terrorists who are wanted for the 2002 bombings in Bali, Indonesia that killed 202 foreign tourists, have been in hiding in Sulu under the protection of the Abu Sayyaf. – With James Mananghaya
Esperon gets 4-day extension By James Mananghaya Thursday, May 1, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon won’t shed his military uniform on May 8 yet after he was given another term extension.
But his extended stay as chief of staff would last only four days from his scheduled retirement.
Sources said President Arroyo would not be able to attend the turnover of command of the Armed Forces from Esperon to his successor, Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, originally scheduled on May 8.
The President, who is also the AFP’s commander-in-chief, traditionally serves as presiding officer during the change of command.
“The four-day extension is only because the President could not attend the turnover,” a source told The STAR.
Another source said the four-day delay in the turnover was known several weeks ago.
The source said that from the scheduled morning ceremony on May 8, the change of command was moved to afternoon of the same day due to the hectic schedule of the President. It was later moved to May 12.
Preparations for the traditional military honors that would be given to the outgoing chief of staff are being held daily at Camp Aguinaldo, with parading troops practicing their marches and other details of the program.
Esperon was supposed to formally bow out of the military service last Feb. 9 when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, but was given a three-month term extension by President Arroyo, in order to sustain the momentum gained in the campaign against the communist New People’s Army.
Earlier, there were rumors circulating that Esperon would be designated as defense secretary after he retires, replacing Gilberto Teodoro, who was also rumored to be transferring to the Department of Justice.
Both Esperon and Teodoro shrugged off the rumors, saying it is only the President who can appoint members of her Cabinet, and until a formal announcement is made these talks would remain speculation.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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