ZAMBOANGA CITY: The newly installed area military commander here rejected any form of negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf militants holding captive a Jordanian journalist and two Filipio television cameramen in Sulu.
Major General Rey Ardo, chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the hunt against the terrorist groups, including the Abu Sayyaf and its cohorts Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) - terror cell of the Al Qaeda - will continue in the southern Philippines.
“We know the situation and there is no negotiation with all the terrorists,” Ardo said.
The military officer, however, said any military operation would be guided by intelligence reports to avoid disrupting the development efforts provided by the provincial government and various government agencies and groups.
The Abu Sayyaf group is suspected of holding captive Jordanian broadcast journalist Baker Atyani, bureau chief of the Dubai-base Al Arabiya news channel, and Filipinos Romelito Vela and Rolando Letrico in the mountains of Sulu for more than five months now since they visited the militant group last June 13 and ended up as hostages.
The Sulu provincial crisis management committee (CMC) has been monitoring the case since the Abu Sayyaf has yet to confirm if the group is indeed holding the victims hostage and if it is demanding ransom for their release.
Ardo said the soldiers in Sulu are prepared to launch military operations once given the signal.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to enhance the capability of the troops in wiping out the terrorists and extremist militants operating in the region.
“Western Mindanao is an important operational theater in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ internal security operations and whatever gains we made here have a direct implication in the safety and image of our nation,” Dellosa said, assuring the troops of operational support.
At least six JI militants taking refuge with the Abu Sayyaf group are being tracked down by security forces from police and military in Sulu province following the successful United States military technology-backed Philippine Air Force (PAF) airstrike on the hideout of the militants in the mountains of Parang town that led to the death of seven senior terrorist leaders, including two JI members and Umbra Jumdail alias Dr Abu Pula last February.
The Philippine star
