Military, police to go ‘all out’ once more vs Abu Sayyaf

MANILA, Philippines–The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police will launch a joint “all-out law enforcement operation” to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf group following an ambush last week in which six soldiers were killed, the military announced Friday.

A military press statement said Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang announced at a meeting with with mayors and other provincial leaders of Basilan at the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City that he was deploying five battalions for this mission.

“We have enough forces in Basilan right now. We can send forces to hunt down the bandits while at the same time, continue securing the Basilan Circumferential Road project,” the press release quoted Catapang as telling the Basilan officials.

He also sought the help of the local leaders in identifying the Abu Sayyaf bandits by posting photographs of them for purposes of identification and charging in court.

Catapang said unit commanders will engage residents to help them solve community problems aside from hunting down the Abu Sayyaf group.

“We want to help identify priority projects that must be funded by the government. We will partner with the leaders to claim peace and prosperity for their people,” the AFP chief said.

The press statement said Catapang met with 13 Basilan town mayors at the Westmincom headquarters in a consultation that was led by Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero.

During the meeting, the local officials expressed their full support for the AFP’s fight against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group and gave the AFP chief a signed manifesto of their support, the AFP statement said.

Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the concept of the new “all-out offensive” would be different from that offensives carried out by the military during the time of former President Joseph Estrada.

“The concept of the all-out offensive is to mobilize everything to solve the Abu Sayyaf problem.… Military action here is only secondary. They need to support in the law enforcement operations against the bandits who are threatening the peace in our communities,” Hataman said.

Last Sunday, six soldiers, including a second lieutenant of the 64th Infantry Battalion, were killed when members of the Abu Sayyaf group attacked them in Sumisip town in Basilan.

The platoon, led by 2nd Lt. Jun Corpuz, were providing security to civilians working on the 64-kilometer Basilan Circumferential Road project.

On Friday, Catapang was briefed by Joint Task Group Basilan commander Col. Rolando Joselito Bautista on the investigation into the deaths of the six soldiers and the current military deployment in the province.

“I want to see a clearer picture of this encounter by submitting to me the result of your investigation. I am saddened by the deaths of our soldiers. I don’t want this to happen again,” Catapang said after the briefing.

Meanwhile, the AFP chief downplayed the possibility of collateral damage, saying the soldiers were “well-trained and equipped” to do their job.

“I have always reminded my soldiers about our slogan: ‘Kawal Disiplinado. Bawal Abusado. Dapat Asintado.’ If they remember all of these, they would not commit unnecessary damage during our operations,” the AFP chief said.