ASG camp captured in Patikul, Sulu Monday morning

MANILA — Troopers from Joint Task Group Sulu have successfuly captured an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) camp at Barangay Langhub, Patikul town, Sulu on Monday morning.

Government troopers were conducting law enforcement operations in the area when they spotted and seized the bandit base at 8 a.m., Ensign Chester Ian Ramos, Joint Task Force ZAMBASULTA (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) public affairs spokesperson, said.

He added that the ASG camp can accommodate 100 bandits and has 42 “structures.”

Recovered from site were empty shells 57mm recoilless rifle shells; M-60 light machine guns; M-203 grenade launchers; M-14 rifles; and, M-16 automatic weapons.

Also captured were two ICOM radios, one “marble gun,” four jungle hammocks, eight combat boots,two civilian boots, nine civilian backpacks, 15 BDU (battle dress uniform) pants, four upper BDU garments, four military shirts, one solar panel, 21 water container , three solar headlights, two sandals and six slippers.

Ramos said the law enforcement operations was conducted in the wake of an earlier encounter with the bandits in nearby Barangay Bungkaong, which resulted in the death of a Scout Ranger and wounding of four others on Sunday afternoon.