Military Lauds Civilians, Soldiers In Fight Against Sayyaf

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 22, 2008) – The Philippine military on Saturday lauded soldiers involved in a clash with Abu Sayyaf militants in Sulu province that left one gunman dead.

Marine soldiers killed Nelson Bin Ricson in the village of Pansul in Patikul town Friday after a 15-minute fire fight with a band of Abu Sayyaf militants. Village leader Basir Asil earlier identified the dead militant as Nixon Arbison, believed to be under Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Juhurim Hussin and Kirrih Hamid Sahiron.

“Every terrorist neutralized and every weapon seized signifies that the country has been rid of a serious threat making every Filipino existence safer,” said Marine Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, the new commander of the anti-terrorist Joint Task Force Comet.

Sabban, a decorated combat officer, took over the task force previously held by Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, who recently retired. He was the former deputy chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

The military said soldiers recovered an M16 rifle from Ricson, including 15 magazines and 170 ammunition, a cellular phone, maps, his wallet containing identification cards, an army camouflage uniform, a jungle pack, bonnet and other personal belongings.

Sabban assured the public that the military will continue to pursue the Abu Sayyaf group tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya and bring peace to Sulu.

“Even as we tread in the right path, the end still lies ahead; there is still so much to do. There are efforts from the enemies to regain what they have lost; it is our job to prevent them as we go onwards with our tasks,” Sabban said.

He attributed the success of the military operation to the support of the civilians and local government officials.

“The heightened alertness and vigilance of the people here significantly helped our troops in their operations against the ASG. Hence, we are grateful for the support and cooperation,” he said. (Nickee Butlangan)

New Anti-Terror Group To Pursue Killers Of Soldiers In Basilan Island

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Paranoia Drives Sayyaf Leaders Crazy

JOLO ISLAND (Mindanao Examiner / 11 Jun) – Suspicions and fears of betrayal among themselves have fragmented members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines.

With millions of dollars and pesos of bounties on top of their heads, leaders of the country’s most notorious terrorist group are now scared that their own followers may betray them in exchange for the huge rewards.

Just last week, the United States handed some P490 million or about $10 million to four Filipino Abu Sayyaf spies in the southern island of Jolo, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, for helping the Philippine military kill the group’s chieftain, Khadaffy Janjalani and his deputy, Jainal Antel Sali, in separate raids in their hideouts.

“They are having a tough time now. The Abu Sayyaf remains fragmented because of fear by their leaders that they would be betrayed by their own people,” the deputy chief of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, told the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

The general said the Abu Sayyaf leadership is now divided between the Jolo commanders under Radulan Sahiron and those from Basilan island led by Isnilon Hapilon. “Both sides are now suspicious of each other. With the huge reward monies, anything can happen,” he said.

Many former Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to authorities have provided vital information about the terror group and its leaders that led to the capture and killing of many militants in Jolo.

The United States listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and offered as much as ten million dollars for the capture of its known leaders.

The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the spate of bombings and kidnappings of foreigners in the Philippines. (With a report from Juley Reyes)

Decorated Marine Commander Is New Deputy Chief Of AFP In Western Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Mar) – A decorated Philippine Marine commander who fought the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo island has been named as deputy commander of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).

Brigadier General Juancho Sabban, head of the 3rd Marine Brigade in Jolo, is now second in command of military forces in the whole of western part of Mindanao.

Army Major General Eugenio Cedo is commander of the WestMinCom based in Zamboanga City.

Sabban served as Jolo’s Marine chief the past two years and has been largely credited for the capture and killing of top Abu Sayyaf leaders, including its chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani in September last year.

He was involved in the rescue of many Abu Sayyaf hostages and a U.S. missionary kidnapped by the terror group in 2001.

“I have been a brigade commander (in Jolo island) for two years now and I have to move on so others can be promoted too,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.

Sabban is recipient of many awards and medals because of his exemplary accomplishments. He also served in the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force and assumed various commands in the military. (Mindanao Examiner)

Giyera Kontra ASG-JI, Lalong Lalakas: Gen. Sabban

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Mar) – Mas may ngipin na ngayon ang militar sa giyera sa mga terorista sa Mindanao kasunod ng paglilipat sa posisyon ni Marine Brigadier General Juancho Sabban.

Binigyang-diin ni Sabban na taliwas sa sinasabing demotion sa kanyang tutunguhing puwesto bilang deputy commander ng Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), mas magiging malawak ang kanyang magagawa sa operasyon laban sa Abu Sayyaf at Jemaah Islamiyah.

"My new job is higher than a brigade commander since my area of operation will cover not only Sulu but the whole of Western Mindanao," ani Sabban.

Sinabi pa ng heneral na sapat na ang dalawang taon nito bilang brigade commander at ang mga naunang accomplishment para pulbusin ang mga kalaban ng estado upang patunayang karapat-dapat sa promosyon.

Nilinaw rin ni Sabban na walang kinalaman sa nangyaring mis-encounter sa Talipao, Sulu na ikinasawi ng 9 na miyembro ng Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) ang paglilipat sa kanyang tungkulin."It has nothing to do with the MNLF issue.

It even strengthened our position and proved that the encounter mentioned was a legitimate encounter as proven by fact finding committees tasked to investigate the incident," diin ni SAbban. (Juley Reyes)

Marine General, Inalis Sa Puwesto Sa Sulu

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 22 Mar) - Inalis sa puwesto ang kasalukuyang kumander ng tropa ng Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) na pangunahing tumutugis sa mga miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sa Sulu.

Nabatid kay Marines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Caculitan na mula sa pagiging pinuno ng 3rd Marine Brigade sa Patikul, Sulu ay maluluklok si Brigadier General Juancho Sabban bilang Deputy Commander ng Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom).

Epektibo sa katapusan ng buwan maisasakatuparan ang balasahan na sinasabing layunin lamang na matiyak ang mas matinding opensiba ng militar laban sa mga terorista sa Mindanao.

Naging mainit si Sabban makaraan ang insidente ng mis-encounter sa mga miyembro ng Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) sa Talipao, Sulu kung saan ay siyam ang nasawi na napagkamalang ASG.

Matagal na ring umugong ang planong pagsibak kay Sabban sa posisyon kasunod nang nangyaring insidente.

Una nang pinaninindigan ni Sabban na lehitimo at walang naganap na mis-encounter sa MNLF members subalit sa isinagawang imbestigasyon ay positibong nagkamali ang tropa ng Marines na pinamumunuan ng heneral sa kanilang nakasagupa.

Papalit naman kay Sabban si Colonel Natalio Ecarma III na kasalukuyang Chief of Staff sa main headquarters ng PMC. (Juley Reyes)