DND chief tells Mindanao natives to cooperate with AFP offensive vs Abu Sayyaf, other terror threats

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 31): DND chief tells Mindanao natives to cooperate with AFP offensive vs Abu Sayyaf, other terror threats

As the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) intensifies its pressure against the Abu Sayyaf and other terror groups, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday urged citizens in Mindanao to cooperate fully with the military to avoid untoward incident and injury.

"Operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines against the Abu Sayyaf and other local terrorist groups are now in full swing. Your AFP will use its ground, air and sea assets against our enemies and leave them no room for escape," he stressed.

In the same vein, Lorenzana also urged his fellow Mindanaoans not to support these terrorist groups in the event that these bandits, even if they are their relatives or friends, come running to them for help.

And if they want to save their relatives or friends from harm, the DND chief urged the former to convince these terrorists to surrender peacefully to government so that they can be rehabilitated.
"As always, foremost on the minds of your defenders are your safety and those of the poor hostages who are being heartlessly used as human shields," Lorenzana said.

"The war against terrorism and violent extremism is not just the responsibility of your Armed Forces. It is a war every Filipino citizen must fight in order to attain lasting peace and usher in development to Mindanao and the entire nation," he stressed.

As of this posting, terrorists killed in the ongoing operations are placed at 15 and eight wounded including Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, who was allegedly severely wounded in the surgical air and artillery strike conducted by the AFP last Jan. 25.

Among the terrorists claimed killed is an Indonesian terror suspect identified only as "Mohisen," and two other local terrorists identified as Sahl Num and one alias "Sadat".

The ongoing offensive is part of AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año self-proclaimed deadline of eliminating these threats within six months.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=959737