Sunday, April 17, 2016

President Aquino determined to end Abu Sayyaf threat, says Palace official

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 16): President Aquino determined to end Abu Sayyaf threat, says Palace official

President Benigno S. Aquino III is determined to put an end to the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf Group, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Friday.

"Buong-buo ang determinasyon ng Pangulo at ng pamahalaan na bigyan na ng mariing dagok at mawakasan na itong mga pananakot na ginagawa ng (Abu Sayyaf), dahil batid naman natin ang ating Sandatahang Lakas ay nakapagdagdag na ng kanilang mga kagamitan," Secretary Coloma told reporters during a press briefing at the Palace.

"Sapat ang kagamitan ng ating mga Sandatahang Lakas. Sapat din ang kanilang pagsasanay. Mataas ang moral ng ating mga kasundaluhan kaya’t pinaiigting ang paglaban sa kanila," he added.

The Palace official pointed out that the area controlled by the rebels has been reduced due to the completion of the Basilan Circumferential Road.

"Totoong lumiliit na ‘yung lugar na pwede nilang pagkilusan dahil sa mga importanteng proyektong pangimprastruktura na nakumpleto na ng ating pamahalaan, katulad ng Basilan Circumferential Road," he said, noting that the island province of Basilan is now encircled by a concrete highway.

“Meron pang kasunod na proyekto diyan ang ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) natin, in coordination with DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), sina Governor Mujiv Hataman. Ang tawag doon sa proyekto ay ang Transcentral Road Project. Nauna ‘yung sa kapaligiran, ngayon naman ‘yung sa gitna. Sa gitna mismo ng isla, merong mga bulubunduking bahagi doon, may Transcentral Road Project naman para talagang mag-improve ‘yung connectivity,” he explained.
Coloma reiterated that the government will not allow the armed group to continue its illegal activities.

"Hindi natin pwedeng pahintulutan na magpatuloy sila sapagkat tuwing sila ay makakakuha -- through extortion, through kidnap-for-ransom activities -- ng mga malalaking halaga ng salapi, ito rin ang ginagamit nila para magpatuloy ang kanilang tiwaling mga ginagawa na labag sa batas at ang paghahasik ng ligalig sa ating mga mamamayan, Kaya’t buong-buo ang determinasyon ng pamahalaan hinggil diyan," he said.

On a Singaporean expert’s claim that the Islamic State (ISIS) was behind the deadly encounter in Basilan, Coloma pointed out that rebel groups used to say that they have links with the Al Qaeda but these days, they say they have links with the ISIS.

“Kinakailangan meron silang branding na ganoon para makilala sila, para katakutan sila… Pero kung tutuusin, titingnan natin what these groups really are -- ang talagang generic characterization natin ay these are opportunists, mercenary groups na hindi dapat bigyan ng puwang sa ating bansa,” he said.

“Dapat sila ay labanan sa fullest extent na magagawa natin… Kasi habang ibinabandera natin, ito ay ISIS, Al Qaeda, para bang binibigyan pa natin sila ng puwang. Samantalang sa katotohanan ay sila naman ay mga oportunista at mga mersinaryong grupo na walang lugar sa ating bansa.”

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1141460723590/president-aquino-determined-to-end-abu-sayyaf-threat-says-palace-official

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