Abu Sayyaf manpower declines by 53%, JTF Sulu commander says

The manpower of Abu Sayyaf Group has diminished by 53%, Joint Task Force Sulu commander Major General William Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the Abu Sayyaf's manpower went down from 282 to 132 or a 53% decline and the violent incidents perpetrated by the bandits decreased from 22 to zero.

He said the statistics were based on comparative data of year 2019 and the first quarter of 2021.

This was presented by Gonzales during the meeting of military officials and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) chief minister Ahod "Al Haj Murad" Ebrahim last May 3 in Cotabato City.

Both parties discussed their partnership for peace and development in the province of Sulu.

Gonzales also noted the success of the Sulu Provincial Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict's Balik Barangay Program, which facilitated the return of hundreds of internally-displaced people to six barangays in Patikul town and two barangays in Talipao.

“The military’s success against security issues in the province coupled with our partnership with NGOs, CSOs, and the provincial government of Sulu led by Governor Tan has made Sulu ready for sustainable development," Gonzales said.

"While some challenges remain for the residents such as the lack of modest shelters, farm to market roads, school buildings, and responsive delivery of basic services, I believe with the help of the BARMM leadership, Sulu will soon re-acquire its old glory as a hub for tourism, fishery, and maritime industry in the region," he added.

Meanwhile, Ebrahim thanked the Western Mindanao Command and JTF Sulu for helping provide an environment that allows the BARMM normalization track to take its course. In return, WestMinCom chief Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan also expressed gratitude to the BARMM government.

"Despite the prevailing security challenges, I assure the Joint Task Force-Sulu and the local government of the province that the BARMM government will remain supportive to programs that aim to end the armed conflict in Sulu. We recognize the hardship of the people in the midst of conflict. We have been there," he said.

The BARMM ministers presented their programs for 2021 as well as their development plans for the following years. They mentioned possible areas of cooperation with the Philippine military.

Recommendations for partnership between the military and the BARMM were made after the meeting.

These include the establishment of Bangsamoro-Sulu Task Force in Ending Local Armed Conflict (BS-TFELAC), creation of housing programs, especially for the Balik Barangay IDPs, inclusion of Abu Sayyaf members who surrender to the BARMM former rebels program, and support for the proposed halfway house/halfway home community for those who surrender.

The meeting was also attended by JTF Sulu brigade commanders and BARMM Ministers Naguib Sinarimbo of Local Government, Eduard Guerra of Public Works, Mohagher Iqbal of Education, Raissa Jajurie of Social Services, and Mohammad Yacob of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform.—AOL, GMA News