Military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) will
continue until they are all neutralized.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin
Lorenzana stressed that neutralization of the ASG was a direct order from the
President.
Elimination of the terrorists is needed as the ASG is
causing too much damage with their kidnapping activities and other atrocities.
Lorenzana said the military will not slow down on its
campaign as it has more than sufficient forces to pursue and eliminate the
bandits in Sulu.
Joint Task Force-Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega
earlier said that his troops will soon deliver a decisive and crushing blow
against the bandits.
He made this statement Monday as he visited soldiers of the
101st and 501st Infantry Brigades deployed in the Patikul and Talipao towns,
the frontlines in the ongoing operations against the terrorist group.
"It will just be a matter of time before our troops
will engage the ASG and punch a decisive blow into their ranks and
leadership," he added.
Operations against the ASG went in high gear after the
bandits beheaded 18-year-old Patrick Almodavar last Aug. 25.
Dela Vega said his visit is aimed at boosting the morale of
troops in the fields and at the same time, to get an appraisal of the ongoing
focused military operations.
ASG death toll in the ongoing offensive is estimated to be
32 in Sulu and 27 in Basilan for a total of 59 while government forces
sustained 18 killed and 28 wounded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=922467
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