AFP chief urges Abu Sayyaf members to surrender

From GMA News (Sep 10): AFP chief urges Abu Sayyaf members to surrender

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya on Saturday encouraged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group to turn themselves in while encouraging troops to renew the government's offense against the bandits.

Visaya said during his visit to the troops that they would neutralize all ASG fighters who refuse to surrender and release their hostages.

"Those in the Abu Sayyaf who want to surrender, the AFP will accept them, provided that they release their hostages; if not, our soldiers will hunt them down and pursue them until all of them are neutralized," Visaya said.

It was Visaya's fifth visit to troops in Sulu since ASG took hostages from the local community and the second since the terrorist group beheaded Patrick James Almodvar, a local Muslim resident.

Around 32 ASG rebels have been killed in Sulu while 27 were killed in Basilan since President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to "destroy" the terrorist group in August.

Fifteen soldiers have also been killed and 27 more have been wounded in action in Sulu while one was wounded in Basilan.

Brig. Gen. Dela Vega, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said they have no deadline "on how long the focused military operations will last" and will "hunt and pursue" the ASG "as long as needed."

Dela Vega said that local officials and residents in Sulu have been cooperating in the military's campaign against the group.

"The local officials and residents appreciate the effort of our soldiers and are providing much needed help in fighting the ASG and in rescuing the kidnap victims," Dela Vega told Visaya during the visit.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/580913/news/regions/afp-chief-urges-abu-sayyaf-members-to-surrender