Provincial peace and order council declares Sulu Abu Sayyaf-free –BARMM

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (BARMM's) Information Office said on Sunday that Sulu's Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) had declared the province clear of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

“We just declared Sulu province as ASG-free, this was declared during our PPOC meeting on Tuesday” Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan said on Friday, September 8.

The PPOC declared that the ASG was strategically defeated and Sulu to be free of the group during the council's third quarter meeting on Tuesday-September 6 in Patikul town.

Even before the PPOC’s resolution, the 19 municipalities of Sulu had issued their respective resolutions declaring their communities as ASG-free.

"This event marks a significant accomplishment in our never-ending quest for stability, security, and peace,” Tan said in his message.

“With the support of our security sector and the community, we can see the improvement in our province. This is the indicator that there is harmony, so we came up with the agreement that Sulu will be declared ASG Free,” he added

“Let us keep cooperating to create a community that respects harmony, diversity, and development."

Meanwhile, Joint Task Force Sulu commander Major General Ignatius Patrimonio said 52 affected barangays were cleared of the ASG, with 966 ASG personalities having surrendered and 559 firearms recovered. — DVM, GMA Integrated News