New AFP chief: No deadline to defeat Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, BIFF

From GMA News (Dec 8): New AFP chief: No deadline to defeat Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, BIFF

Newly installed Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año on Thursday said he is not setting a deadline for the military to finish off the Abu Sayyaf, the Maute Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

"We will do our best but I will not set a deadline. Our full efforts are ongoing," said Año, who replaced Gen. Ricardo Visaya, who made a self-imposed deadline to defeat the Abu Sayyaf before he retires from service.

The Abu Sayyaf, which operates in Basilan and Sulu provinces, is currently holding around 20 hostages, among them foreigners.

Saying that he will not let the Filipino people "cower in the face of lawlessness and terrorism," Año, in his assumption speech on Wednesday, said he will sustain the fight against the Abu Sayyaf, the Maute Group and the BIFF.

On Thursday, Año presided over his first command conference as AFP chief where he told military commanders to "continue the focused military operations in [your] areas."

"Resources will be pushed forward to support our troops. Adjustment will be made based on the assessment of the ground commanders," he said.

Before his appointment as AFP chief, Año headed the Philippine Army.

As an Army official, Año had supervised operations that led to neutralization of rebel leaders, among them Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago of the New People's Army, and the the Tiamzon couple, Benito and Wilma, of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Human rights advocates, however, have accused Año of having a hand in the abduction and disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos in 2007. Año, who was Army intelligence chief during the Burgos incident, had already been cleared from the case.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/591749/news/nation/new-afp-chief-no-deadline-to-defeat-abu-sayyaf-maute-group-biff