Thu, September 27, 2012
Philippine officials say more than 100 marines have left southern Sulu province, where they helped battle al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf militants for years, to a western province to help reinforce Philippines' claims in "South China Sea territories."
Officials say a significant military force of about 5,000 will remain in Sulu to deal with lingering Abu Sayyaf threats.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin says the shift is part of a plan for the military to gradually shift from an anti-insurgency role to territorial defense.
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