AFP: No Abu Sayyaf retaliation moves but people asked to be vigilant

From the Philippine News Agency (May 19): AFP: No Abu Sayyaf retaliation moves but people asked to be vigilant

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday there was no monitored movement by armed group as a form of retaliation after the fall of the two last Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) stragglers last May 15.

Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Matanguihan, the Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, however, called on the people to remain vigilant, as retaliatory attacks were still possible.

Matanguihan made the statement during the weekly media forum "Kita ug ang Gobernador" (We and the Governor) at the People's Mansion here.

He added the AFP were ready to repel any terror threat from any armed groups and not just the ASG bandits.

Bohol has enough government troops to meet head on any threats despite the pull out of augmentation forces deployed here at the height of the ASG skirmishes.

He said it would be foolish for the bandits to launch a retaliatory attack here, citing the lack of community support for them to mount a campaign.

"They should think many times before going back here," said Matanguihan.

He added the Boholano community has been supporting government troops’ efforts against the bandits.

"The bandits were like fish without any water to swim in. Without water, it would be difficult for the ASG to swim and survive," he added.

Matanguihan said that in case there was a need for reinforcement, it would be easy for the AFP to pull out forces from Negros or Manila.

He said the AFP already recommended to the Office of the President a PHP2 million reward to the informants that led to the death of two ASG stragglers "Abu Asis" and "Abu Ubayda". The Office of the President has approved the reward recommendation.

He, however, declined to give details as to the number of recipients of the reward money, these being "classified information".

When asked when the reward would be awarded, he simply said "soon”.

On Monday, Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Noli Talino and Lt. Gen Oscar Lactao, commander of AFP’s Central Command declared Bohol free of ASG threats following the deaths of the two last stragglers.

Meanwhile, the AFP is revisiting the maritime security protocols to prevent any incursion of the bandits into other areas in the country.

The ASG bandits entered Barangay Napo in Inabanga via the waterway on-board three motorized bancas also known as “kumpit”.

Matanguihan said of an ongoing review of security protocol with the naval forces to stop any potential movement of armed groups while at sea.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/989210