President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday vowed that the
government will not stop until the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
is ended.
“The full resources of the State are being brought down on
the ASG. Our primary objective is to rescue the hostages and ensure the safety
of our civilian population. We will leave no stone unturned and are studying
every instrument, both military and legal, to ensure success in our areas of
operations and wherever else required,” he said in a statement.
The ASG beheaded Canadian mining executive John Ridsdel
after the government failed to pay the PhP300 million ransom demanded by the
bandits.
Ridsdel’s severed head, which was inside a plastic bag
dropped by two men on a motorcycle, was found by residents in Jolo town, five
hours after the expiry of the ransom deadline set at 3 p.m. last Monday (April
25).
Ridsdel was among the four hostages who were abducted by ASG
bandits on September 21 last year from a resort in Samal Island
In his statement, the President said he had sent a letter to
Ridsdel’s family on Tuesday to express his condolences.
"We are so appalled by this murder… This murder was
meant to terrorize our whole population. The Abu Sayyaf thought they could
instill fear in us; instead, they have galvanized us even further to ensure
justice is meted out. We have always been open to talks with those who desire
peace; but those who commit atrocities can expect the full might of the State,"
he said.
"I am ready to devote all my energies towards ensuring
that, at the very least, this will be a very seriously degraded problem that I
will pass on to my successor," he added.
President Aquino explained that since its founding in the
early 1990s, allegedly as an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, the Abu Sayyaf has
committed atrocity upon atrocity.
He cited as examples the sacking of Ipil in 1995, the
bombing of the Davao
International Airport
“Their actions speak for themselves. Even as it poses as a
group of Islamic freedom fighters, the Abu Sayyaf has behaved as criminals
focused on enriching themselves by taking hostages for ransom," he said.
"ASG and various smaller terrorist groups and factions
now want to align themselves with ISIS to gain access to the funds and
resources of ISIS . From Day One of my
administration, they have had aspirations to conduct bombings in Metro Manila
to catch the attention of ISIS . May I
emphasize that these have been, and remain, only aspirations,” the Chief
Executive said.
He noted that as part of the group’s efforts to gain favor
with ISIS, one of its leaders, Isnilon Hapilon, through his cohorts in prison,
has tried to convert other prisoners in the New Bilibid Prison to their cause
and establish ties with remnants of the Rajah Sulayman Movement, purportedly in
an attempt to embark on a bombing campaign in Metro Manila.
They allegedly even hatched plots to kidnap Manny Pacquiao
or one of his children, as well as the President’s sister, Kris Aquino, or one
of her children, “with the plan to use them in bargaining for the release of
their cohorts”, he said.
“Threats against my own life have been investigated,"
the President added.
He, however, emphasized that no improvised explosive device
(IED) attributable to the group of Hapilon has been found.
“We have monitored their activities, unraveled their
network, and arrested the key players, while some of the minor players who were
already on the run are being hunted down. I credit our security services for
putting these threats to bed with both professionalism and discretion. The
public may rest assured that they may go about their daily lives without fear
or unease," he said.
President Aquino said the government wants "to
seriously erode any ability of the ASG to continue to function" by
conducting continuing operations in Basilan against Hapilon and his sub-leader,
Furuji Indama.
On the current situation in Sulu, he said “our reports tell us
that the captives are under the control of Radillon Sajiron, who has
consolidated his forces around himself and the captives.”
He explained that this is both a problem and an opportunity
-- a problem because of the sizeable force surrounding Sajiron and the
captives, but also an opportunity because “smashing these forces is within our
grasp."
"This is why intensive operations are ongoing against
the ASG forces holding civilians captive in Sulu," he said.
"Casualties are to be expected. But what has to be of
utmost importance is neutralizing the criminal activities of the ASG. The men
and women in our Armed Forces are well-trained, well-equipped, and resourceful.
I have full trust and confidence in them," said the President.
"We have proven before that we will choose all-out
justice over all-out war. We have always believed in the power of dialogue,
development, and positive engagement over arms. But we will always act from a
position of strength. So, to the ASG, and whoever may aid or abet them, you
have chosen only the language of force, and we will speak to you only in that
language. We will not stop until the threat they pose to our communities is
ended," President Aquino said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=880296
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