The government’s campaign against the Abu Sayyaf bandits should be backed by faster boats to beat the speed with which marauders move in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) with ease, according to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv S. Hataman.
Aside from acquiring speed boats, Hataman said government should also impose strict measures in the issuance of permits to boat owners in the BaSulTa corridor.
Hataman said profiling conducted by ARMM authorities on the ASG showed that the group is using speed boats with three to four engines of 300 horsepower each – giving them such speed that “even a helicopter cannot match” when cruising along BaSulTa and other coasts in the country even Malaysia.
Hataman who hails from Basilan said he is willing to sit down with policy-makers in the crafting of a “comprehensive” action against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), admitting that the group’s atrocities have been eroding development gains in the ARMM. The region covers the BaSulTa corridor and the mainland provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.
“Gusto kong marinig yong presentation nila (I want to hear their presentation). If the intended solution is Martial Law, it should be comprehensive so as to ensure that civilians are spared from collateral damage. Basically, because of sad experiences during Marcos time, ayaw ng mga tao natin ng (our people do not approve of ) Martial Law,” Hataman told Manila Bulletin.
The idea of imposing Martial Law in Basilan and Sulu was floated to crush the ASG after they beheaded recently two Canadian nationals after ransom was not paid.
Most of the residents in the ARMM and Muslim Filipinos are against the ASG, Hataman shared but the method in decimating the group needs to be handled carefully for the welfare of innocent residents in the area.
In lieu of Martial Law, a “well-coordinated, intensified and participatory” campaign against the ASG can be done simultaneously in Sulu and Basilan, Hataman said.
“Why not we try it first, at least three to six months? I am willing to issue an order to bring out the civilians from their homes and put in one evacuation area then let the government attend to their needs while military operation against ASG is going on,” Hataman suggested.
He said government should make a “clear classification” of local leaders in ASG’s area of operation.
“The government should know whether we are on the side of authorities or the Abu Sayyaf,” he pointed out.
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