Suspected Abu Sayyaf attack injures paramilitary officer, 3 civilians in southern Philippines

Gunmen allegedly linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) injured a paramilitary officer and three civilians during a Sunday night attack on an army detachment on the southern island of Basilan, police and military officials said.

The militants launched the attack on the 18th Infantry Battalion patrol base manned by the Civilian Active Auxiliary on the same day 21 militants surrendered in Jolo, a nearby island, officials said.

“The attackers were believed to be ASG,” said Col. Richard Verceles, operations leader of police forces in western Mindanao.

The militants positioned themselves just a few meters from the detachment and fired rounds of high-caliber weapons, including M79 rifle grenades, toward the government position, he said.

The attack appeared to be revenge against the detachment, which is near a village where a bandit leader and three other suspected Abu Sayyaf followers were killed in a November 2022 clash, officials said.

Pro-government militiamen fought back, which led to a firefight that lasted 30 minutes before the enemy side retreated, Verceles added.

“Our forces have intensified border security to prevent similar attacks,” he said.

Army forces stationed in the area were alerted about the attack and sent reinforcements, although they failed to catch the militants.

Police identified those injured as militiaman Romy Mangkabung, his wife, Hasma Akah-Mangkabung, and 10-year-old nephew, Jonie Mangkabung. Nasira Moreno, the daughter of another militia member, was injured as well.

The four were taken to the Lamitan District Hospital where they were recovering from gunshot wounds, the military and police said.

Militants surrender

Meanwhile, Marine Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, the Western Mindanao Command acting leader, said 21 Abu Sayyaf members surrendered to troops on Jolo island on Sunday morning.

Among the militants were Madjid Said/Majid Said, identified as a leader of the group, and his sub-commander, Jamiri Jauhari. They surrendered in a village in the town of Patikul, where ASG had for years staged attacks and taken hostages for ransom, Rojas said, adding they gave up high-powered firearms, including assault rifles.

“We are hopeful that the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu will soon be defeated and peace and order in the province of Sulu will be fully restored,” Rojas said as he presented the militants in nearby Zamboanga City.

 “I’m very happy with this development. … Also, we were able to isolate them and stopped their recruitment efforts,” Rojas said, adding that military successes have drained the militants of resources and support.

The “former violent extremists” were provided with food and financial assistance, and are housed in a relocation site. It was not clear whether they would be prosecuted for their past crimes. 

In early November, the military reported 174 Abu Sayyaf suspects had surrendered in the south in 2022, including about 40 non-combatants who were providing logistical support to the group.

The overall strength of the Abu Sayyaf Group was believed to have fallen to 130 active fighters in ASG’s strongholds on the southern islands of Basilan and Jolo, the military said at the time.