Military ups pressure on Abu Sayyaf after deadly encounter

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will continue to pressure the bandit group Abu Sayyaf after a deadly encounter in Sulu last Friday, November 14, the army’s top official said.

“Malakas [ang ASG] pero mas malakas yung Armed Forces, so we will have to continue to pressure [them],” AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Pio Catapang told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo Sunday, November 16. “‘Yun ang order sa atin ng ating hierarchy: to defeat the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, in Sulu, in Zamboanga, in Tawi-Tawi.”

(The ASG is strong but the Armed Forces is stronger, so we will continue to pressure them. That is the order of the hierarchy: to defeat the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, in Sulu, in Zamboanga, in Tawi-Tawi.)

Catapang said the military is mulling whether to send more forces to Sulu – an idea that has been discussed even prior to Friday’s encounter.

“Kumbaga, graduated ‘yung aming response.” he said. “Ngayon, napatunayan natin na talagang may puwersa pa sila diyan, that they are trying to show [strength], so we will be able to contain them.”

(In other words, our response is graduated. Now, we have proven that they still have forces in the area, that they are trying to show strength, so we will be able to contain them.)

Friday’s bloodbath saw 5 soldiers and at least 10 ASG bandits killed in a close-range encounter in Talipao.

It was the first major encounter since the government launched last month offensives against the local terrorist group. It is also the biggest Abu Sayyaf group that the military has engaged in years – Rappler.com