DND chief Lorenzana: AFP intends to defeat local terrorists in six months

The Armed Forces of the Philippines intends to defeat local terrorist groups – the Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters – within the next six months, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday. 

Lorenzana said this is part of the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte. He, however, refused to say how they would do that .

“Hindi namin sasabihin dito kung ano ang gagawin, we'll just do it. Kasi baka naman (malaman) ‘yung ating mga operational plans, malalaman ng kalaban e makapaghanda sila.  But we are going to do something new or innovative to finish this problem once and for all,” he told reporters.

He said if the AFP will not be able to do it in six months, he is ready to issue an extension until the end of the year. 

“That is our target (accomplish the mission in 2017). In fact, ang binigay ni AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Año is the next six months e. Let see kung magawa natin ng six month, e di maganda, kung hindi (iextend) natin yung six months hanggang end of the year,” he said. 

“For the record, ang goal namin is to defeat the Abu Sayyaf saka yung mga Maute, ‘Yung BIFF in the next six months din,” he said.

Lorenzana believes the target is doable considering the support of the local officials and the public in general.

“The people there are also desirous to have peace kasi magugulo rin yung buhay nila, and siguro we will just have to do the best we can or all we can combining military and developmental projects para masugpo natin ‘yung kanilang ginagawa,” he said.

Asked if they will pour additional forces to fight the terror groups, the defense chief said the President just approved the recruitment of 10,000 personnel which he believes can be utilized in 2018.

“Ngayon  pa lang natin kasi ipapatupad ‘yun, it will take time kasi to train people, so maybe in the next 12 months we are going to recruit, equip, train, siguro magagamit natin yung bagong tropa siguro 2018 na,” he said.

In a separate interview, Año said their aim to significantly defeat  the local terror groups.

“Ibig sabihin n’un we have rendered them, their capabilities very minimal,” he said.

He said the three terror groups have different goals.

“‘Yung Abu Sayyaf kidnapping; ’yung Maute Group they would want to be recognized by ISIS kaya ang ginagawa nila bombing, use of improvised explosion device; ‘yung ibang groups like Ansar Al-Khilafah, combination ito ng extortion at saka terrorism,” he said.

“Para sa amin ang kailangan talagang bantayan dito ng husto, yung mga Maute group na nagpaplanong magconduct ng terroristic activities sa mga cities natin,” he added. 

He said they have already intensified their intelligence operations such as the conduct of a special conference for the intelligence community.

He said they will create a program to encourage the community to help them especially in reporting suspicious looking persons and objects.

“‘Yung mga nagmimigrate na mga bagong mukha sa mga sa iba’t ibang lugar ng Pilipinas kailangang mamonitor natin ito and also in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Council and other intelligence units of different branch of government.  So yun ang aming gagawin, magkaroon kami ng closer cooperation,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News