AFP, PNP to launch ‘all-out’ campaign vs Abu Sayyaf in Basilan

Abu Sayyaf. AFP FILE PHOTO

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 the attack which killed six soldiers last week.

In a meeting with local Basilan leaders at the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the military has deployed five battalions and some specialized units for the 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 official said in a statement on Friday.

AFP photo

He also sought the help of the local leaders in identifying the bandits by posting photographs of the suspects so that they can be easily identified and charged 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 stressed.

Catapang said the military will conduct peace, economic and development summit in Basilan just like what they previously did in Sulu.

“…We want a 24-hour operation, we are trying to develop a capability in the sense that if you fight us, or you destroy the peace, we will fight you 24 hours, with our night-fighting capabilities,” he added.

Met with mayors

The AFP chief met with 13 Basilan town mayors at the Westmincom headquarters in a consultative meeting 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.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the concept of an “all-out offensive” that the local leaders would be different from the time of former President Joseph Estrada, during which all armaments were used against the terror group.

“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,” he said.

Catapang, for his part, said they will pursue members of the Abu Sayyaf group with outstanding arrest warrants in the intensified law enforcement operations.

The official said the military has received reports from the mayors that the terrorist group is engaging in extortion activities, demanding money outright from the mayors and “disrespecting them.”

“They (Abu Sayyaf) are not only destroying the big government projects, but they are also becoming corrupt,” the AFP chief noted.

3 months

Catapang said the military hopes to end the problem in three months with the cooperation of people in Mindanao, adding that it might take longer without the residents’ cooperation.

He has ordered Guerrero to ensure the security of the mayors to avoid retribution from the terrorist group.

On Sunday, six soldiers including a young 2nd lieutenant of the 64th Infantry Battalion, were killed after members of the Abu Sayyaf group attacked them in Sumisip town in Basilan.

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

The incident came weeks after the Abu Sayyaf group released two German nationals from a seven-month captivity, after a P250-million ransom was allegedly paid.

The terrorist group even showed the alleged ransom paid to them, but Catapang said they are still verifying the information noting that the money could be counterfeit.

“It might be counterfeit money that they are showing so that they can attract more supporters or followers,” he said.

The terrorist group is still holding 10 captives.