AFP says Abu Sayyaf must be dismantled on March 31

January 23, 2020

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reset the timeline of its campaign to dismantle the Abu Sayyaf.Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said Thursday the new target date has been reset to March 31, this year, from December 31, 2019.

Maj. Arvin John Encinas, Westmincom spokesperson, said they estimate 300 Abu Sayyaf members in the areas of Basilan and Sulu.

Sobejana said the Abu Sayyaf has been significantly decimated in terms of firepower and manpower although they were not able to meet the December 31 deadline. 

Sobejana expressed confidence they can meet the new deadline since Abu Sayyaf has lost mass based support.

Sobejana said residents realized the campaign of the government is geared towards peace and development that is why they support the military.

“The challenge before was that the Abu Sayyaf are popular with their Robin Hood style of sharing the bounty they get out of the ransom being paid,” said Sobejana. 

He said they have deployed more troops to Sulu “without necessarily leaving vacuums in other areas of Westmincom".

He said they are involving the participation of other stakeholders, like the local government units, “in our peace and security efforts to make the Executive Oder No. 70 work.”

President Rodrigo Duterte issued E.O. No. 70 institutionalizing the whole of nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creating a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, and directing the adoption of a national peace framework. DMS