Government troops have taken over an Abu Sayyaf IED (improvised explosive device) factory in Basilan Sunday night, the military said.
“Before midnight of November 9, the joint forces of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spearheaded by the combined elements of 104th Brigade conducted a deliberate attack against Abu Sayyaf Group under Furuji Indama and his IED (Improvised Explosive Device) factory at Tipo-Tipo, Basilan Province,” Westmincom spokesperson Captain Rowena Muyuela said.
Colonel Rolando Bautista, 104th Infantry Brigade commander, said the military’s ground assault included a combination of artillery and mortar fires.
Bautista added that some IEDs exploded during the offensive. Because of this, some 500 families were evacuated. Communication networks in the municipalities of Tipo-Tipo, Sumisip, and Ungkaya Pukan were also deactivated.
“The main intent of the operation is to allay the fears of the civilians and local officials in view of the series of atrocities, kidnapping and extortion committed by the group of Indama,” said Muyuela.
