Visaya: AFP to involve rebels in nation-building, hunt down Abus

MANILA, Philippines — Expect change in how the military deals with internal security, new Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya said Friday at the turnover ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo.

 

Visaya said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would pursue a people-centered approach and involve rebel groups in nation-building following President Rodrigo Duterte’s “paradigm shift in military operations.”

 

In a speech during the event, Duterte said it is his job to bring peace and talk to “enemies of the state” like the Communist Party of the Philippines, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front.

 

Peace talks, however, would not include the Abu Sayyaf, according to Duterte. Instead, he warned the group that the country could only take so much and there would be a "time for reckoning."

 

RELATED: Duterte vows to end Abu Sayyaf kidnappings

 

The new AFP chief said they would support the peace process and vowed a 24/7 hunt against the Abu Sayyaf which he tagged as “profit-seeking” criminals “who operate under the guise of religious fervor and holy war.”

 

He added that the AFP would beef up on firearms to go after the terrorist group.

 

“We will realign military resources to their identified bailiwicks and sanctuaries and apply our military strength to suppress them, hunt them down and finish them."

 

Analysts said the Abu Sayyaf has evolved into a criminal gang with the decline in its ideologically-motivated attacks and rise in profit-driven activities like extortion and kidnap-for-ransom.

The AFP chief also said that change would be felt in how the military deals with territorial defense.

 

“We will abide by the political, legal and democratic processes to settle issues and support national policy to strengthen our position in the regional and global area,” he said.

 

“The AFP will rationalize our relationship with our allies in order to strengthen our military ties with them while at the same time prioritize the interest of our force and our nation.”

 

He said the focus on regional cooperation would eliminate fear of widespread confrontation, allowing them more time for humanitarian aid and disaster response — a top agenda during the first official meeting of Duterte Cabinet members

 

The Philippines is in a maritime row with China over parts of the South China Sea, where $5 trillion in trade passes every year. Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also lay claim to parts of the disputed waters.

 

RELATED: South China Sea row: Where countries stand

 

Meanwhile, Visaya addressed accusations of human rights violations against him, saying they were unfounded and already junked after “tedious judicial proceedings.”

 

“Such allegations were proven to be mere instigations not only to malign me but the whole military institution too.”