AFP chief reaffirms pursuit operations against ‘lawless elements’

MANILA, Philippines – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban Jr. has reaffirmed their continued pursuit of all “lawless elements” regardless of affiliation Monday night.

“We do not care if they are a member of any organization, but if they help lawless elements, they become lawless elements,” Oban said in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo.

The military had launched air strikes and ground offensives against about 100 lawless elements, some believed to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in Payao town, Zamboanga Sibugay Monday.

There have already been one casualty and four wounded from the military while six were killed and 40 wounded from the ranks of the lawless elements, Oban said.

The lawless elements being hunted by the joint AFP and Philippine National Police (PNP) forces in Payao town are Waning Abdusalam and 10 others who have been issued arrest warrants for various crimes including murder and kidnapping.

The others being pursued were Putot Jakaria, Ogis Jakaria, Talib Jail Indal, Datu Saramain Indal, Tareed Mangunda, Morsede Jalal, Harid Andaya, Pendatun Datukali, Mohmim Karim and Alnajer Sali.

Oban said that they will gather more data and information about the location of other lawless elements in Basilan before they conduct pursuit operations there. Should the lawless elements enter designated “areas of temporary stay” (ATS) for the MILF, the military will continue the pursuit in coordination with the MILF, he added.

Oban said that President Benigno Aquino III was clear in his directive of “all-out justice” instead of “all-out war” which he said in an earlier press conference in Malacanang. Aquino emphasized that they are after criminals who have been issued warrants of arrests.