The Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) is gaining ground in its fight against terrorism and
lawlessness, its newly-installed spokesperson said on Thursday.
In a press
briefing, Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala said the military is confident it will
be able to decimate the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
AFP chief of
staff Gregorio Catapang Jr. last month ordered an all-out offensive against the
BIFF, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), after it
attacked several villages in parts of Maguindanao and North
Cotabato , displacing thousands of families.
"We are
really optimistic that our offensive operations against the BIFF will result in
a positive impact... that we will degrade their capability [to conduct
bomb-making activities]," Kakilala said.
He said the
Justice Islamic Movement (JIM), a splinter group of the BIFF, is also a target
of the AFP's all-out offensive.
He noted that
troops have recovered bomb-making equipment from the alleged lair of JIM's
leader, Ali Tambako.
Tambako, he said,
was eased out from the BIFF in 2013. He said when the BIFF's leader, Umbra
Kato, suffered a severe stroke in November 2011, there was rivalry and power
struggle within the group.
The JIM, believed
to have links with terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, is allegedly coddling
wanted bomb-maker Basit Usman and five other foreign terrorists.
ABU SAYYAF 'PARANOID'
Meanwhile,
Kakilala said the Abu Sayyaf Group has already become paranoid following the
operations conducted by the AFP.
"Kahit ingay
ng palaka, ingay ng ibon, pinagdududahan nila na nagmo-monitor sa kanila, sa
activities nila," he said, citing an unnamed government official in Sulu.
"That is how paranoid [they are]," he added.
He said since
January 2015, 36 members of the bandit group have been killed. Eighteen
firearms have also been recovered from them.
"With the
current developments, we are gaining grounds in our fight against lawlessness
and terrorism," he said.
BRING BACK NORMALCY
According to
Kakilala, they are coordinating with local government officials on how to
deliver aid and medical services to the thousands of residents displaced by the
AFP's offensive operations.
He said they aim
to bring back normalcy to the affected communities.
"Once we
have flushed out the armed bandits and terrorists from the affected areas, we
will facilitate the safe return of the civilians back to their homes," he
said.
"We are
appealing to all armed groups to end all acts of violence that have caused the
displacement of people from different communities. Please consider your
options: embrace lasting peace as our partners or continue to be on the run as
enemies of the state," Kakilala said.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/05/15/abu-sayyaf-paranoid-amid-military-offensive-kakilala
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