By: Francis T. Wakefield
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has said that the recent attacks committed by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group only add fuel to their desire to finally crush them.
In a press briefing, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo said despite the atrocities committed by the terrorist group such as the recent killing of six soldiers in Basilan, the military, led by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, remains focused in its desire to neutralize the terror group.
“There is no irony there. He remains true to his focus on his earlier pronouncement, the next direction is the neutralization of the Abu Sayyaf Group,” Arevalo said.
Arevalo admitted that atrocities committed by the ASG will not stop despite the AFP’s desire to crush the enemy.
“This only goes to show on what we are saying earlier that they want to show that they are a force to reckon with,” Arevalo said.
“But they should be forewarned that this kind of moves will the more fuel the desire of our Armed Forces to neutralize this terror group,” he said.
Arevalo said troops deployed during the war in Marawi City will soon return to Basilan and Sulu as part of efforts to defeat the enemy.
“Even before, we were able to re-deploy our forces from the deployment in Marawi going back to their area of responsibility in Basilan, in Sulu, there many of the Abu Sayyaf who surrendered, who were killed,” Arevalo said.
“So these actions are more meant to show that they are force to reckon with, its more, the intent is trying to show other supporters and sympathizers that they can still put up a fight against government, and get sympathy from the people.”
“But these are miscalculation on their part and we can say that it is all meant for show,” he added.
