President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday vowed the
continued fight against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to prevent the bandits from
terrorizing people and get the attention and funding of ISIS .
“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 said in a statement.
The statement was issued nearly two days after the bandits
beheaded one of their Canadian hostages, John Ridsdel, who was among the four
people the bandits kidnapped from a resort in Samal Island
The President said he had written Ridsdel’s family to
express his condolences.
“We are so appalled by this murder. Mr. Ridsdel was a person
against whom no one had any grievance—a person who was powerless against his
captors. This murder was meant to terrorize our whole population,” he said.
The President said military operations against the bandits
continue, particularly in Sulu, to save the hostages who were seized along with
Ridsdel.
He said the hostages were reportedly under the control of
one Radilon Sajiron, whom Aquino said “has consolidated his forces around
himself and the captives.”
He said this situation was “both a problem and an
opportunity.”
“It is a problem because of the sizeable force surrounding
Sajiron and the captives, but it is also an opportunity because smashing these
forces is within our grasp,” he said.
“This is why intensive operations are ongoing against the
ASG forces holding civilians captive in Sulu. 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,” he said.
President Aquino said the atrocities of the ASG were the
main reasons for the continued military operations in Balisan, particularly
targeted ASG head Isnilon Hapilon and a deputy, Furuji Indama.
“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 pointing out the government’s
target was “to seriously erode any ability of the ASG to continue to function.”
The President said “casualties are expected” but assured the
public that what was important was neutralizing ASG’s criminal activities.
“The men and women in our Armed Forces are well-trained,
well-equipped, and resourceful. I have full trust and confidence in them,” he
said.
President Aquino also said the government had been open to
dialogues with the rebels but pointed out that it “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,” he said.
"We will not stop until the threat they pose to our
communities is ended,” he said.
This after disclosing that ASG has targeted several
personalities, including him, his sister, Kris, and one of her kids; and
Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and one of his kids.
President Aquino said ASG, along with smaller terrorist
group, have continued their kidnap-for-ransom activities to get the attention
and receive funding from ISIS .
He noted that even at the start of the current Aquino
administration the ASG has planned to conduct a series of bombing in Metro
Manila “to catch the attention of ISIS .”
”May I emphasize that these have been, and remain, only
aspirations,” he said.
The President also said the bandits, through its allies in
prison, even tried to convert prisoners in the New Bilibid Prison in line with
their plan to conduct bombings in the metropolis.
There were no improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found that
can be traced to the ASG but authorities have monitored the bandits’ activities
and network and even arrested some key players, he said.
”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 added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=880244
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