Military officials led by Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer yesterday set foot in the highly fortified stronghold of Abdusalam and his men at Sitio Talaib, Barangay Labatan in Payao town following days of heavy fighting and bombing sorties that left 13 dead and forced thousands of civilians to flee.
“The safe haven of kidnapping operations and terrorist activities in Zamboanga Sibugay has fallen,” Ferrer declared.
Ferrer directed the operations to capture the encampment of Abdusalam on Thursday morning, marking the troops’ apparent victory in its two weeks offensive operations.
The government has described Abdusalam as a renegade MILF commander and his forces as “lawless elements.”
“We have re-established our authority in this part of Payao and we owe it to the joint forces – our Army, Air Force, Navy and the police – that fought long and hard,” he added.
Abdusalam and several of his men reportedly slipped through the cordon of the government forces with the troops seizing two .50 caliber machine guns at the encampment.
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