New AFP chief: Will be unrelenting vs terror groups

Change is coming, even to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Newly installed AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya vowed to make a shift in the military’s external and internal operations in a manner that will be greatly noticed.

READ: Ricardo Visaya formally takes over AFP

“Change will be felt as we impact on the life of our nation, by the way we conduct our internal security and territorial defense operations, by the manner we assist law enforcement agencies in their fight against terrorism, drugs and criminalities, and by our timely humanitarian assistance and disaster response under the banner of genuine transformation,” he said in his assumption speech in Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.

The new AFP chief hinted they will focus on internal security operations, saying that they will be “unrelenting” in their operations against terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf.

“We will realign military resources to their identified bailiwicks and sanctuaries and apply our military strength to suppress them, hunt them down and finish them,” Visaya said.

They will also rethink their armament acquisition program to further beef up their capacity.

“Our modernization initiatives will also be refocused on rebuilding our internal war-fighting capabilities to run after internal security threats and support law enforcement operations,” Visaya said.

He added that they will “apply the full force of the law 24/7 in going after these criminals and profit-seeking elements who operate under the guise of religious fervor and holy war.”

READ: Incoming AFP chief wants to fight Abu Sayyaf 24/7

Visaya said they will also strengthen their support for law enforcement agencies, especially the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in fighting criminality.

As to territorial defense, the new AFP chief said they will abide by the political, legal and democratic processes to settle the issue. RAM/rga