‘Sayyaf will be crushed’

MANILA, Philippines - The government will make sure that the Abu Sayyaf will have nowhere to go, President Aquino disclosed yesterday as he noted that enough elite forces have been deployed to “crush” the bandits.

The leadership of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) condemned the slaying of six soldiers in Sumisip, Basilan on Sunday.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman urged the military to conduct an all-out offensive against the bandits to end their criminality in the island.

“In Sulu... there are about 200 Abu Sayyaf and a potential 200 sympathizers so you’re talking about 400,” Aquino told reporters after attending the inauguration of Coca-Cola FEMSA (Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V.) Philippines in Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna.

“Now, we have several battalions... not one, not two, not three – several battalions composed of some of our most elite forces and the regular line infantry battalions who are going to all of these mountain lairs and very heavily wooded jungle and dense areas to precisely deprive them of safe havens,” Aquino said.

The President said this when asked if the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) should be tapped to help the government neutralize the Abu Sayyaf that are still holding more than 10 hostages after the release of two German captives.

Aquino assured the people that the administration is proactive in dealing with the Abu Sayyaf and all measures are being done simultaneously with military and police operations.

Aquino said he was after short-term and long-term results, conceding that only wide-ranging reforms and development would end criminality and insurgency in the south.

“There are communities where they have a lot of relatives who are supportive of them, we must get back these communities and stop them from supporting the Abu Sayyaf,” Aquino said.

The President said the circumferential road in Basilan would soon be finished after being guarded by soldiers for a very long time.

He said the bandits would obviously hamper any sign of development so they could continue to recruit members.

He noted that infrastructure projects would lead to investments and development, and thus the government would also focus on these.

“We can really expect that, as the end of the situation that allows the opportunity to recruit and sow terror nears, they will really fight intensely,” Aquino said.

Aquino said the operations would be relentless and would not stop until the Abu Sayyaf members are arrested and brought to court.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang ordered yesterday an investigation into the Basilan attack launched by the Abu Sayyaf that left six soldiers dead.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero has been directed by Catapang to spearhead the probe to determine if lapses were committed and if there were, who would be held accountable.

“If there were lapses, we will find out if there will be people who have to be investigated and would be questioned why it happened,” said Catapang.

Road project will continue

Hataman said the killing of the six soldiers guarding a multimillion-peso road construction site in Sumisip will not affect the completion of the project.

The Saudi Arabian government funds the 80-kilometer circumferential road.

Hataman, chairman of the regional peace and order council, said the incident would not result in the suspension of construction.

Hataman ordered the director of the ARMM police, Chief Superintendent Noel delos Reyes, to file criminal charges against the Abu Sayyaf bandits reportedly led by Radzmi Jannatul and a certain Katatung.

Jannatul and Katatung, who both belong to the extremist Abu Sayyaf bandit,s attacked the members of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion that were on patrol near the road project in Sitio Mompol in Barangay Libug in Sumisip.

Killed were 2nd Lt. Crescencio Corpuz Jr., Sgt. Tranquilino Germo, Privates First Class Rolando Enters, Freddie Pandoy, Raffy Canuto and Mark Anthony Singson.

Corpuz belonged to Class 2014 of the Philippine Military Academy.

“We in the ARMM government believe it was an attempt to sabotage the project. There’s no stopping now. We’re almost at the homestretch in the implementation of this highway project,” Hataman said.

Col. Rolando Bautista, commanding officer of the Army’s 104th Brigade which has jurisdiction over Basilan, said he was saddened by the deaths of the six soldiers. – With Jaime Laude, Perseus Echeminada, Roel Pareño, John Unson