Military offers more excuses in delayed pursuit ops vs Abus

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 22): Military offers more excuses in delayed pursuit ops vs Abus

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday offered more “excuses” for the delay in the ongoing pursuit operations against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group that held the two German hostages who were released last Friday after ransom payment.

At press time, pursuing government troops had not caught up with the Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the island province of Sulu, particularly in Patikul town.

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, AFP-Public Affairs Office chief, said continuous heavy rains in the area, difficult terrain and the Abu Sayyaf splintering into smaller groups and mixing up with civilians are among the challenges in the current all-out offensive operations against the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group).

“It’s really difficult to operate when you have harsh terrain in the area. Continuous rains are a challenge in the tracking operations of our reconnaissance elements; how to follow the tracks or traces of the enemies which are being swept (by rains),” said Cabunoc.

Cabunoc added that it has been raining in the areas of operation since Saturday.

“They (ASG) are also mixing up with civilian communities, that is a very big challenge because we are reminded to protect the rights of the people. We are not supposed to cause collateral damage,” added Cabunoc.

Cabunoc stressed that the areas now being operated by the troops are civilian populated.

According to Cabunoc, previous Abu Sayyaf encampments seized by pursuing government troops were situated in civilian-populated areas in Patikul.

“There are houses, not necessarily in the center. There are houses but these are barangays with civilian population,” said Cabunoc.

To avoid civilian casualty, Cabunoc said that government security forces are deliberate in the conduct of operation.

He also cited the deployment of Army soldiers who were former members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), now assigned with the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion, who are acquainted with Sulu and its terrain.

“We enlisted the help of these former MNLF who are now in the Army to identify plain civilians because they know exactly who are those identified with the Abu Sayyaf group,” said Cabunoc.

He said the military has been receiving reports that the Abu Sayyaf band being pursued holds other hostages.

“There are reports but yet to be validated. It has to be validated by our intelligence officers,” said Cabunoc.

The reports of the ASG holding some 11 more hostages who are foreigners have been published in the media for years. Not one of these hostages has been rescued by the military.

Last Friday, the Abu Sayyaf released Germans Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Herike Diesen, 55, after almost five months in captivity.

Reports said that P250 million ransom was paid for the release of the German hostages.

Currently, the military said that 10 hostages are still being held by the Abu Sayyaf, including the two European birdwatchers kidnapped in February 2012 and a Japanese.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/military-offers-more-excuses-in-delayed-pursuit-ops-vs-abus