AFP needs public support to thwart Abu Sayyaf, terror threats

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 24): AFP needs public support to thwart Abu Sayyaf, terror threats
 

The military here shared its difficulty in relying on intelligence alone with regards to conducting operations against the ISIS-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), all the while urging the public to support them with much-needed information on this terror group.

 

“Intelligence work is not always 100 percent (accurate),” said Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson Major Filemon Tan Jr.

 

“Even inside of this room, if there is an ASG, we cannot easily identify him without information. But if there is enough information, wherever he is we can find him,” he said.

 

Major Tan emphasized that “the populace should be active in its role to address the problem as well as the local government unit.”

 

Intelligence reports must be thoroughly validated, Tan said. “We cannot just rush into an operation without first validating the information,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, the military has always been on alert. “Although we do not necessarily display it, intelligence work has always been intensive. We do our best to pre-empt any threats, we do not want to be only reactionary.”

 

The armed forces, in its anti-terrorism operations particularly in the southern part of the country is delivering “focused military operations,” meaning, their operations are intelligence-driven, and done in certain areas to “preserve resources,” contrary to a “shotgun approach.”

 

“We really have to study the situation first thoroughly,” he emphasized.

 

Meanwhile, military operations against the Abu Sayyaf bandits have been relentless.

 

It can be recalled that the ASG has set a deadline to decapitate their remaining hostages, among them a Canadian and a Filipina, if a ransom is not made.

 

Earlier this year, the head of Canadian John Risdel was discovered inside a bag in Jolo, Sulu, after the deadline for a ransom was not made.

 

“The AFP is continuous in its operations, deadline or no deadline,” Tan said.

 

But Tan said that that they cannot give assurance that the ASG will not continue to commit atrocities such as beheading hostages.

 

“We cannot give that assurance because these are in their hands. What we have control of is our operations, and we are doing our part, day and night,” he said.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2651463983094/afp-needs-public-support-to-thwart-abu-sayyaf-terror-threats