Insurgency: Abu Sayyf Bakery Shop

There is not much of a narrative this week as there has been recently. Instead it's just a series of stories about how the AFP continues to whittle away at the NPA and the Muslims. And that is really what they have to do. Here a little, there a little. It's a war of attrition.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136560

A leader of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-linked Dawlah Islamiya (DI) was killed while nine others, including eight lawmen, were wounded in a firefight in Marawi City, military officials announced Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the slain DI leader as Usop Nasif alias Abu Asraf, who was killed in a firefight Monday in Barangay Guimba, Marawi City.

Vinluan said the firefight ensued and lasted for about 30 minutes after Nasif and his followers opened fire when they noticed the presence of soldiers and policemen approaching their hideout.

Vinluan said the troops launched a law enforcement operation after they received a report on the presence of Nasif and his followers in Barangay Guimba.

That is great news that they killed a leader of Dawlah Islamiya. The AFP also killed a foreign bomber in Sulu.

https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/17/elite-troops-kill-alleged-egyptian-suicide-bomber-2-abu-sayyaf-men-in-sulu-clash/

Elite Army troopers killed an alleged Egyptian suicide bomber and two suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants linked to some of the most vicious and deadly attacks in Western Mindanao a fierce gun battle in Patikul, Sulu on Friday night, April 16.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), identified the slain suspects as alias Yusop, one of the five remaining foreign terrorists in Mindanao; Abu Khattab Jundullah alias “Saddam;” and alias “Akram.”

According to Vinluan, troops from the military’s elite counter-terrorism unit 4th Light Reaction Company, were conducting focused military operations in Barangay Igasan when they encountered an ASG group under sub-leader and known bomb expert Mudzrimar “Mundi” Sawadjaan around 10:45 p.m.

Sawadjaan’s unit is tagged behind the twin suicide bombings in Jolo, Sulu on August 24, 2020 that killed 15 people; and the Mt. Carmel Cathedral twin bombings on Jan. 27, 2019 where 18 people died.

An intense firefight ensued which lasted for only about ten minutes, Vinluan said, until the enemies were forced to retreat.

Allegedly this Egyptian is "one of the five remaining foreign terrorists in Mindanao." That is very specific and implies that the AFP knows who the now remaining four others are. Hopefully they catch them. As for th rest of Abu Sayyaf they would do well to surrender like the 10 did this week.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/11/21/10-abu-sayyaf-members-surrender-in-sulu-military

Ten Abu Sayyaf Group members surrendered to the military in Sulu on Saturday, the Joint Task Force Sulu said.

In a statement, the task force said among those who surrendered are 2 brothers who joined the group when they were still teenagers.

According to alias Salim and alias Jumli, they both joined in 2016 after they were convinced by a friend, and due to the promise of instant cash.

Now, the brothers earn a living in a bakery shop.

“I am happy to know that these young men are now supporting themselves with their hard-earned money in a bakery shop. I told them that there are also opportunities in the army which they politely declined as they would like to continue their passion in baking. Their dream is to have their own bakery," JTF-Sulu and 11th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. William Gonzales said.

These Abu Sayyaf brothers only wanted to run a bakery. From killing AFP soldiers to baking bread. They even declined an opportunity in the military. Of course you would have to be a jerk to offer Abu Sayyaf terrorists a career path in the  military. Why did the AFP make such a stupid offer?

A BIFF sub-commander and 5 of his subordinates also surrendered this week.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1137162

A sub-commander of the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and five of his followers yielded to military authorities in Maguindanao, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) announced here Sunday.

Maj. Juvymax Uy, the 6ID commander and concurrent Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) chief, said Abunawas Ibad Damiog, alias “Bayawak,” commander of the BIFF Bungos faction’s 4th division and deputy chief for military affairs, surrendered Saturday before the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade’s (1MIBde) headquarters in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Five of Damiog’s followers, identified as Yasser Bago Abunawas, Anwar Alim Sangki, Olon Bago Abunawas, Mohammad Kanakan Ibad, and Dihan Abdul Ali, also surrendered.

A military intelligence report indicated that there are some 100 BIFF members still hiding in the mountains of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

BIFF fighters continue to surrender which has depleted their ranks so that now only about 100 of them are left. But they still pose a serious threat as their preferred mode of attack is through random IED's. Certainly more will surrender in the coming months. Then they will also be able to partake of the NTF-ECLAC's bribe money.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/former-rebels-receive-2-1m-aid-from-the-government/

Former Rebels who surrendered in Surigao del Norte were given 2.1M aid by the goverment.

In a simple awarding ceremony was held at Provincial Capitol, Surigao City, in April 14, 11 beneficiaries received financial and livelihood assistance from the government.

A total of P 76,000 was given to each of the surrendered, while double the amount was recieved by those who brought along their firearms.

Meanwhile, the other member agencies of Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) Committee ably provided assistance such as foodpacks, hygiene kits and non-monetary items for the former rebels.

One of the former rebels named AKA Dante expressed his heartfelt thanks for giving the chance to start anew. He said that the assistance provided by the government will be of big help for them to reboot their disrupted lives.

He also added that they are all remorseful about the decisions they made from the past that led them to be involved in the violent struggle.

Yeah they are all remorseful. Great. But will they be held accountable?? No.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136558

A police and military manhunt operation has been ordered against a band of communist terrorists responsible for burning PHP5-million worth of construction equipment in Surigao City on April 12.

In a statement Tuesday, the Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) said an undetermined number of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels torched a backhoe, a concrete mixer truck, and a generator at a construction site in Barangay Mapawa, Surigao City.

“The construction company that owns the equipment is working for the completion of a farm-to-market road (FMR) project in the area," said Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr., PRO-13 director.

Caramat said the Surigao del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company (SDNPMFC) and the Army's 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) are in pursuit of the perpetrators as of Tuesday morning.

“We eyed extortion behind the attack. The desperate NPA terrorists do not care for the local folks who are supposed to benefit from the road connecting the community to market centers,” he said.

Thankfully the local government has condemned this crime.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136828

Surigao City Mayor Ernesto U. Matugas Jr. has condemned the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for disrupting a farm-to-market project by destroying the contractor's heavy equipment.

In a statement Thursday (April 15), Matugas said he is saddened by the atrocity of the NPA, noting that the attack came amid the continuing challenges posed by the coronavirus disease  2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“It has also disrupted the progress that we have made so far as building concrete roads for easy transport of the people and goods from the barangays to the city and vice-versa,” Matugas lamented.

It was clear that the rebels were not interested in the Surigaonons' desire for progress and development in the area, he added.

An undetermined number of NPA rebels torched some PHP5 million worth of heavy equipment, including a backhoe and a concrete mixer truck, in Barangay Mapawa on Monday.

The NPA burned even more construction equipment in Silay City.

https://dailyguardian.com.ph/npa-claims-burning-p16-6-m-worth-of-heavy-equipment/

The New People’s Army (NPA) Roselyn Jean Pelle Command (RJPC) in northern Negros Occidental owned up to the burning of heavy equipment worth P16.6 million at Barangay Consing, E.B. Magalona last Tuesday.

In a statement, the rebel group said that they burned down the heavy equipment allegedly operated by Silay City Mayor Mark Andrew Golez in Hacienda Vista Alegre, Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City, in response to the people’s clamor to punish large-scale quarrying operations which recently caused massive flooding in the area.

“The sanction was carried out by the RJPC and paralyzed three backhoes at the Malogo river quarry site,” according to the group, adding that Malogo is a major tributary which runs through several haciendas and agricultural areas in Silay City, E.B. Magalona town and in Victorias City, where the river connects to the Guimaras strait.

The group recalled that thousands of families in northern Negros were affected by massive flooding on New Year’s Day.

As in Suigao City the mayor of Silay City condemned these acts.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1137063

“I condemn the cruel and violent act of groups who commit illegal activities, including the burning of backhoes in EB Magalona. To my fellow Silaynon, now is the time for us to come together in unity,” Golez said in a statement issued in the local dialect on Friday.

He did not directly mention the NPA in his statement, but it was clear that he was referring to the communist-terrorist group after its Roselyn Jean Pelle Command based in northern Negros owned up to the burning of the heavy equipment on the night of April 12, with the aim of “punishing large-scale quarrying operations, which recently caused massive flooding in the area,” and “sanctioning Golez.”

Golez dismissed as lies the claim of the NPA that he is a quarry operator who owns the three backhoes damaged during the incident.

“There is no quarry operation registered under my name, either in Silay or in any other place, and I don’t own any equipment, particularly the backhoes burned in EB Magalona,” he said.

Condemning the NPA is about all any politician can do in this situation. It's not much but it's something. It's more than DFA Teddy "Boy" Locsin did when he was a member of the House.

https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1142957999603929088

Remember Teddy when I mocked Etta for complaining violation of human rights because NPA burned cooperative's tractors? I asked, "Did the tractors scream in the flames?" You laughed a lot.

One of Teddy's colleagues in the House, Etta Rosales, said that the NPA committed human rights violations by burning farm equipment and Teddy mocked her by asking, "Did the tractors scream in the flames?" He repeats this anecdote several times on Twitter. With a quip like that and the constant repetition of it one has to wonder if Teddy even cares about the NPA burning down equipment.