ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines –An Army unity will replace 2nd Marine
Brigade from Sulu reportedly after its breakdown to limit out the local
militant group Abu Sayyaf group from its kidnapping activities and the recently
speculated ISIS recruitment.
The movement of the marines out of Sulu province, after its
seven-year stint, is already in the planning stage, a senior military source
said.
The source said that the 102nd Army Brigade will take over the areas
in Sulu, which is currently based in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, while another
army brigade from 5th Division in Northern Luzon will be brought in to cover
the area that will be vacated.
Since some of its soldiers were natives or have been deployed
before in Sulu, the 102nd Army Brigade was selected, an official said.
“They know the territory and culture which is best for the civil
military operation to reach out with the community,” according to the
source.
Another source said that Sulu could be another reason for the
changes, after the “friendly fire” which left six members of the Joint Special
Operation Group (JSOG) dead and several others wounded by a wayward round of
105 millimeter Howitzer last June 19 in the mountains of Patikul town,
“I am sorry we cannot
discuss operational matters for security reasons. Any changes will just be
implemented without announcements as it will endanger our troops and
unnecessarily alert the bad elements,” Guerrero said in a text message in
response to questions of the impending pullout of the marines in Sulu.
However, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Gen.
Gregorio Pio Catapang asserted the these additional troops through the presence
of the marines will relieve the trauma and anxiety as a result of the September
2013 siege staged by the followers of Moro National Liberation Front Chair Nur
Misuari.
