AFP chief vows to capture Sayyaf men in kidnapping of 2 Germans

Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. AFP PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MANILA, Philippines – After the release of the German hostages from the Abu Sayyaf, the top brass of the Philippine military vowed to pursue and capture the bandits.

General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, said that even without exchanging fire with members of the Abu Sayyaf, the military would get to them no matter what.

“Surely we will catch up to them,” Catapang said Monday.

Colonel Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu Commander, seconded Catapang saying that they “will do their best” to catch up to them.

Even with the release of German hostages Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen from the Muslim rebels, the military failed to capture the Abu Sayyaf members responsible for the kidnapping.

Arrojado said that the Abu Sayyaf managed to evade them but on the positive side the military has infiltrated their hideouts, which were not accessible to military troops before.

“Just a little more patience and we will get them,” Arrojado said.

Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, AFP Public Affairs Chief, said they could not engage the rebels in a firefight as the bandits have trickled into the civilian population.

He added that they don’t want the civilians to get involved in a probable crossfire if they engage the rebels.

Arrojado said that what the military is doing is conducting “tactical movement” where they deliberate carefully on the operations.

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