MANILA, Philippines – The military has begun conducting naval patrol around the island of Basilan to prevent any remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits from escaping towards nearby provinces, a military spokesman said Friday.

The naval patrol began Thursday, a day after the series of bloody encounters between government forces and elements of the Abu Sayyaf, augmented by troops from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The encounter, which left at least 23 soldiers killed, was part of the military’s operation to overrun a known Abu Sayyaf training and explosives manufacturing camp.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, Jr. said the patrol is part of the follow-up operations being conducted for the Abu Sayyaf bandits who may have escaped to nearby islands of Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and Zamboanga.

Brawner said an additional 200 troops from the Western Mindanao Command will be deployed in Basilan to assist pursuit operations against Abu Sayyaf and MILF rebels.

The Philippine Navy has also deployed three patrol gunboats to conduct patrol operations and two auxiliary vessels in Basilan for transporting troops.