Fifty-five alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) were killed in various operations conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from January 1 to September 30, 2020.
General Gilbert Gapay, AFP Chief of Staff, attributed this accomplishment to the "strong support" of President Duterte's leadership to the military.
"The many successes of our operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group and its affiliate organizations can be attributed to the strong support of the national leadership, inter-agency cooperation, and the soldiers’ high state of morale," he stated.
Aside from those killed, the military said 78 ASG terrorists have surrendered, six others were arrested, while 97 firearms, seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and nine enemy encampments were seized during the same period.
In September alone, 15 ASG terrorists were killed in separate focused military operations while 17 others surrendered to the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) and Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), the areas frequented by the terror group.
Among the most recent encounters occured last September 28 in Patikul, Sulu when elements of the 45th Infantry Battalion (45IB) and ASG bandits traded bullets which resulted in the death of Arsibar Sawadjaan, the alleged cousin of ASG top bomb maker Mundi Sawadjaan.
Last September 29, 12 suspected terrorists were also killed in simultaneous offensives conducted by combined Army troopers of 1st Infantry Division (1ID) and 9th Infantry Division (9ID) in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Seized from the slain were three M16 rifles, R4A3 rifle, M14 rifle, 15 magazines, 250 rounds of ammunition, assorted IEDs, two motorcycles, bandoliers, backpacks, and solar panels.
On September 6, combined Army, Air Force and Navy forces fought with the bandits also in Zamboanga Sibugay which resulted in the killing of one terror suspect and confiscation of three rifle grenades, 30 rounds of ammunition, M16 rifle magazine, bandolier, 15 assorted empty shells, 20 time fuses, and two grenade blasting caps.
Special Forces troops also killed a follower of ASG leader Furuji Indama in an armed encounter in Hadji Muthamad Ajul, Basilan last September 2.
Meanwhile, the military hailed the successful rescue of Filipino-American kidnap victim Rex Triplitt, a 64-year-old farmer, from his ASG captors last September 30.
Triplitt was rescued by Army troopers from the 1st Infantry Division after a fierce firefight with the terrorists in the jungles of Zamboanga del Norte.
'Victories' over BIFF, Maute
Gapay also said that the military has scored victories over the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Daesh-inspired Maute Group, the homegrown terror hroup behind the 2017 Marawi siege.
"These local terrorists who operate in the south continue to embrace the Daesh narrative and assimilate its barbarism in the guise of religion. But the peace-loving Filipinos already reject this Daesh violence and have extended their full support to the government and the AFP in its fight against terrorists," Gapay said.
Since January, 28 BIFFs have already been killed, 134 surrendered and 20 others were captured in different operations.
Seized from them were 147 firearms, 15 IEDs, and three encampments.
Moreover, 24 Maute members were killed, 15 surrendered and five others were apprehended so far by the military. Troops confiscated from them 30 firearms, 31 IEDs, and 17 encampments.
"The AFP with the help of all stakeholders and guided by the National Action Plan to Prevent/Counter Violent Extremism, will sustain its momentum against the terror group ASG and other local terrorist groups," Gapay said.
"We will not tolerate any attempt to sow violent ideologies and will make use of all available technologies to put an end to the spread of violent extremism," he added.