Military seizes another Abu Sayyaf camp in Sulu

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Military on Monday morning seized another Abu Sayyaf camp in Sulu after the capture of one of the rebel bases on Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Chief, said troops from the Bravo Company, 35th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army seized the camp in Kabuntakas, Patikul, Sulu at around 8 a.m. Monday.

He added the Abu Sayyaf rebels abandoned the camp “two to three” days ago after the release of the two German hostages.

Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen were released on Friday night.

Colonel Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu Commander, personally inspected the camp.

“I believe that it is a security outpost that is manned by more or less 10 people,” Arrojado said. “We are continuously tracking them as they flee toward the forested parts of the town.”

Lieutenant Chester Catapang, the leader of the reconnaissance team, said they discovered the camp a few hundred meters from the larger camp that was seized on Sunday.

No skirmishes between the military and the Muslim rebels have been recorded since the release of the hostages.

RELATED STORIES

After freed Germans, at least 11 hostages still in Abu Sayyaf hands

AFP seizes two Abu Sayyaf camps in Sulu