AFP continues ops in Sulu despite Misuari request for halt

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it has denied the request of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari to stop its operations in Sulu.   “Tuloy lang ang operations…Hindi po natin wini-withdraw ang pwersa (The operations continue. We have not withdrawn the troops),” AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said in an interview aired over DZBB on Friday.   The spokesperson said they will only stop the operations if there are kidnap victims that would be turned over for release.   He said the Abu Sayyaf could take its chance to escape should there be a break in military operations.   Early this week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he will let the military commanders on the ground decide on Misuari’s request if operations would be stopped in Sulu.   READ: Misuari wants military ops to stop for talks for release of Sayyaf captives   It was Misuari who negotiated for the release of four Abu Sayyaf hostages over the weekend. Ransom was reportedly paid but the military has repeatedly denied any knowledge on the matter.   There are still 15 hostages remaining at the hands of the terrorist group — including a Dutch national, five Indonesian sailors, five Malaysian fishermen and four Filipinos. IDL/rga