AFP downplays recent atrocities of Abu Sayyaf

The Abu Sayyaf wants to show they are still a force to reckon with, the military said Thursday, as it downplayed the recent atrocities perpetrated by the terrorist group.

“Marami na ang sumusuko, marami na ang napatay sa kanilang hanay, so these actions are meant to show they are a force to reckon with. It’s trying to say to other supporters and sympathizers na kaya nilang mag put up ng laban sa gobyerno (they can still put up a fight) but these are miscalculation on their part. Pwede nating sabihin na (WE can say) it is all meant for show,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a press briefing Thursday.

Six soldiers were killed in an encounter with the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan last week, as the military continued its offensives against the group. Early this week, the group also allegedly abducted six locals in Sulu.

READ: Suspected Abu Sayyaf men abduct six locals in Sulu

Some of the fighters that joined the Maute Group in the five-month battle in Marawi City were from the Abu Sayyaf. They were brought by then Basilan-based Isnilon Hapilon to Central Mindanao when he tried to establish a caliphate of the Islamic State.

“Yung mga (those) sporadic firefight, hindi matutumbas dun sa dami na ng mga sumuko at napatay na miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf (It cannot be matched by the sheer number of those who surrendered and killed members of Abu Sayyaf)… We were able to re-deploy our forces from the deployment of Marawi going back to their AOR (area of responsibility) in Basilan, Sulu,” Arevalo said.

“They should be forewarned na itong mga ganitong klaseng hakbangin wil fuel more the desire of our Armed Forces to neutralize this terror group,” he said. /jpv