Military to use 'shock and awe' strategy vs. Abu Sayyaf

The military will employ "shock and awe" tactic in its offensive against the Abu Sayyaf, which is currently holding several hostages, among them foreigners, in Sulu, Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya said Monday.

"You will see in July that there will be shock and awe," Visaya told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo. "You are going to see results. It will be a different approach."

The "shock and awe" type of operation, which involves the use of overwhelming power and spectacular displays of force, was the strategy used by the United States in defeating Iraqi forces during the war in 2003.

Visaya refused to elaborate, citing operational matters, but vowed that "more actions will be seen in the next three months."

Army commander Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano said Visaya told military generals in a command conference last week that he wants the Abu Sayyaf problem solved before his term as military chief ends on December 8.

Ending the Abu Sayyaf problem is one of the thrusts of the newly installed Duterte administration.

The al Qaeda-linked group is holding over a dozen kidnap victims,  including seven Indonesian sailors abducted on June 22 in Sulu Sea, and a Norwegian tourist. It recently beheaded two Canadian captives.

Military estimates the number of active Abu Sayyaf members to be about 300 to 400 men scattered in Sulu and Basilan.

At present, there are 11 battalions operating against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu while there are about four battalions in Basilan. —KBK, GMA News