AFP: using night vision technology to raid Abu Sayyaf with rockets

Philippine forces launched an attack against Abu Sayyaf camps in Patikul, Sulu on Friday night with air strike, the military said yesterday.

The said night attack (using its new technology on the suspected hideouts of bandit sub-commander Jul Mundi Sawadjaan), was confirmed by Col. Allan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS).

“The three Abu Sayyaf groups of around 200 men were consolidating in the area when our attack helicopters hit them at about 9:30 p.m.,”
Arrojado said.

Last week, attack helicopters hit the Abu Sayyaf positions twice using rocket fire.

Arrojado also mentioned that one Abu Sayyaf was killed in the Friday evening air raid after his body was monitored by the military to have been returned to his family in Barangay Bud Bunga, Talipao town yesterday.

On the other hand, upon his speech, he again added that “Aside from our continuing ground operations, our intent in launching the air strike is to keep them running in order to deny them their good night’s sleep which we hope would result to the lowering of their guard to pave the way for us to launch decisive ground engagement with no collateral damage,”