In a significant move to bolster security and environmental protection, troops from the Philippine Army's 32nd Infantry Battalion (32IB) conducted a combined combat patrol and community clean-up drive in Basilan province on Friday, December 26.
Securing a Former Terrorist Stronghold
The operation focused on the Sampinit Complex, a rugged area spanning the tri-boundary of Isabela City and the towns of Sumisip and Maluso. This location holds a dark history as the former stronghold of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). For years, the complex served as a site where kidnap victims were brought and, tragically, beheaded when ransom demands were not met.
One of the most harrowing incidents involved Claretian priest Fr. Rhoel Gallardo. He was kidnapped along with 22 students and four teachers from the Claret School of Tumahubong on March 20, 2000. Fr. Gallardo was later tortured and killed inside the Sampinit Complex on May 3 of the same year.
Dual Mission: Security and Stewardship
According to Lieutenant Colonel Gerwin Maghuyop, commander of the 32IB, the mission had multiple objectives. The primary goals were to familiarize soldiers with the challenging terrain, maintain security control, deter potential threats, and protect local civilians. The operation also aimed to apprehend illegal logging activities, helping to safeguard Basilan's vital forests.
"Immediately after the patrol, the troops conducted a clean-up drive along the Sampinit Complex highway, reinforcing environmental protection and community responsibility," Maghuyop stated. He emphasized that this activity highlights the battalion's sustained commitment to peace, security, environmental care, and ensuring a strong government presence in the region.
Building on Broader Peace and Reforestation Efforts
The military's latest action aligns with broader civilian-led initiatives in the area. Earlier, Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman spearheaded a peace caravan and a large-scale tree-growing activity within the same complex. That event saw the planting of 1,100 narra seedlings and 100 jackfruit seedlings, aimed at strengthening the watershed, reducing flood risks, and creating new livelihood opportunities for residents.
To institutionalize these environmental efforts, Governor Hataman issued Executive Order No. 19, series of 2025, creating the Sagip Kalikasan program. This program is specifically designed to protect the remaining forests of Basilan, with particular focus on the ecologically and historically significant Sampinit Complex.
The combined efforts of the military and local government underscore a holistic approach to transforming a once-feared conflict zone into a symbol of renewed security, environmental recovery, and community hope.
