Año urges soldiers to volunteer in fight vs Abu Sayyaf

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año urged soldiers to volunteer in Mindanao to fight Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist groups.

In his camp visit at the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, he said that volunteering is an opportunity to earn the Medal of Valor, the highest military award for combat.

“If you want a Medal for Valor and you need the opportunity to earn it, volunteer and join the fight against the Abu Sayyaf Group and other terrorist groups,” he was quoted as saying in a press release on Wednesday.

“We will not allow them foothold here in the Philippines. We have to ‘nip the bud’ in six months before they can ever thrive in our country. We cannot afford a protracted war,” said General Año.

READ: AFP’s ‘innovative’ plan aims to crush terror groups in 6 months

The AFP wants to eliminate Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups within six months under its new campaign plan, Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan.

Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte has raised the monthly gratuity pay for the Medal for Valor awardees, from P25,000 to P75,000. They also receive discounts in several establishments and scholarships for their children, among others.

READ: Duterte warns Abu Sayyaf: I will eat you alive …

There are currently 47 awardees, with five in active service.

Prior to the AFP chief’s visit to Zamboanga on Tuesday, he also visited the Western Command in Palawan, which holds the jurisdiction of Philippine-claimed islands in the South China Sea.

He also visited the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City on Wednesday. IDL