Marawi-like attacks won't happen again, AFP WestMinCom says

From GMA News Online (Dec 15, 2019): Marawi-like attacks won't happen again, AFP WestMinCom says

Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) spokesperson Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana on Sunday said attacks like the one launched by the Maute group in Marawi City in 2017 will never happen again.

As the martial law enforced in Mindanao since the 2017 siege will soon be lifted, Sobejana assured that such hostilities will never happen again due to the reduced strength of terrorist groups.

“Marawi (City-like attacks) will never happen again. Ang strength ng terrorist groups sa ating bansa ay na-reduce na significantly,” Sobejana said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

“They are on the run. We will sustain it. As much as possible, we will confine itong terrorism problem particularly the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group), BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters), and Jemaah Islamiyah,” he added.

Even without martial law in Mindanao, Sobejana said there are other interventions like Executive Order 70 that will enable them to continue their efforts against the threats.

“Our security posture will remain the same at tuloy ang ating isinasagawang focused military operations against various threat groups here in the area of responsibility of the Western Mindanao Command,” he added.

Sobejana said eight foreign terrorists were confirmed to be present in the country while 60 are still for validation.

According to him, these terrorists have no capacity to stage an attack as destructive as the 2017 attack in Marawi City.

Last week Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte will not extend martial law in Mindanao upon its expiration on December 31, following the assessment of his security and defense advisers of the “weakening of the terrorist and extremist rebellion.”

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/719181/marawi-like-attacks-won-t-happen-again-afp-westmincom-says/story/