Lorenzana, Aňo to visit Sulu to check operations vs Abu Sayyaf

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 6): Lorenzana, Aňo to visit Sulu to check operations vs Abu Sayyaf

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Aňo will visit Sulu on Tuesday to assess the situation following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order to crush the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The two top government security officials will also preside the meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to determine the needed assistance that the national government will deliver to address the situation in the island province.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, information officer of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), on Monday said the meeting would also serve as opportunity for the two national officials to thank the local government and community leaders in Sulu for helping fight the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

“One of the key messages that we have been emphasizing is that we cannot do this alone. We need the vital support of the local government units and the communities in our fight against the Abu Sayyaf bandits and other lawless groups," Petinglay said.

“The positive results of military operations in recent weeks reflect the support and the involvement of the communities and the local government officials in helping the military fight the Abu Sayyaf,” she noted.

Petinglay said the military appreciated the efforts made by the communities "in denying the members of the ASG to seek refuge in their areas."

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, earlier said that the military needs the help of the entire stakeholders to successfully rid the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu and Basilan.

“I enjoin all governors, mayors and other local government units, let us fight and work together for development and security (of our people). Together, we can win. Without you, we will come out defeated,” he said.

So far, 20 members of the ASG have been killed in two weeks of intense military operations. The military, on the other hand, suffered dozens of wounded personnel.

The military beefed up its assault following the execution of German kidnapped victim, Juergen Gustav Kantner, on February 26.

Kantner was beheaded after the family failed to pay the bandit’s demand of PhP30-million ransom. He had been in captivity for more than four months.

Petinglay said the body of the German national, which was recovered in the town of Indanan last Saturday, will be flown to Manila on Tuesday, March 7.

On Friday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte visited Sulu to keep abreast of the military operations there.

The President ordered a no let-up operation against the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

To date, there are 31 kidnapped victims who are still in Sulu, 26 of them foreigners.

The hostages are: 12 Vietnamese, seven Indonesians, five Malaysians, five Filipinos, a Dutch and a Korean.

Petinglay said Lorenzana and Aňo will hold a closed door meeting with military commanders in Sulu.

Currently, there are 10 military battalions in Sulu to go after the Abu Sayyaf.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=969424