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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/29 Sept) — About a thousand soldiers from Northern Luzon were deployed Sunday to Sulu while two Army battalions from the same region were deployed to the Zamboanga Peninsula
The Philippine Star’s online edition, philstar.com reported Monday that Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. ordered the redeployment of the 501st Infantry Brigade and attached units from Northern Luzon “to strengthen security” in Sulu and the Zamboanga peninsula
Agence France Presse (AFP) on Sunday reported that the troops were redeployed to “strengthen security after Islamic militants threatened to kill one of two German hostages” in Sulu.
The Abu Sayyaf last week threatened to kill one of two German nationals they have been holding captive since April unless the 250 million pesos ransom it demanded is paid before October 10, 2014 and Germany stops supporting US action against Islamic State militants.
Philstar.com reported that the 21st Infantry Battalion and the 41st Infantry Battalion will be redeployed in the Zamboanga peninsula while the 501st Brigade’s assignment is in Sulu .
The AFP report quoted Major Calixto Cadano Jr, of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division as saying that the deployment of Army troops to Sulu will allow Marines who have been fighting the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu “to concentrate on their main tasks.”
It quoted Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin as saying on Friday that Army troops would be deployed to Sulu to “stop the Abu Sayyaf once and for .” (MindaNews)
