AFP: Massive ops vs. terrorist groups ‘focused, intelligence-driven’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday doused fears that its massive operations against terrorist groups in Mindanao will only further affect civilians, saying the operations will be intelligence-driven and targeted only at the rebels.

"Ito ay focused military operation. Hindi ito 'yung 'no man's land' na maghuhulog ka lang ng kanyon, magpapaputok ka lang ng bomba just anywhere. Ito ay focused operation, intelligence driven," said Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP public affairs office, in a News To Go interview.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recruitment of additional 10,000 personnel to counter terrorist groups.

This, as the AFP intends to defeat local terrorist groups, including the Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, within the next six months.

But Arevalo, in the interview, clarified that massive operations do not necessarily equate to massive violence.

"When we say massive, we only mean we are going to employ assets of the Armed Forces. We have the air assets, the naval assets and we have the Army," Arevalo said.

"Intelligence is very important. When we say focused, we mean surgical. Kumbaga sa tao, kung mag-oopera tayo, kung ang may diperensya lang ay puso, sa puso lang tayo naka-focus, hindi natin gagalawin 'yung buong katawan," he added.

Arevalo, however, could not promise that civilians will not be displaced from their homes. When this happens, he said they will coordinate with local government officials to attend to the needs of displaced civilians.

"It may necessarily entail displacement ng tao. But even then, factored pa rin 'yan. Kasama sa planning considerations natin 'yan. That's why we need and [are] exhorting support from local government upang kanila namang kalingain at tignan 'yung mga madi-displace,” he said.

More than the combat approach, the AFP is also looking into a “non-lethal and non-combat” take to drive away terrorist groups.

“Itong mga sumasama sa Abu Sayyaf groups, hindi naman lahat ito sumasama dahil they are there for a cause. They are motivated by money. ‘Yung iba rito, sumasama dahil nakakita sila ng madaling pagkakakitaan ng pera dahil sa kawalan nila ng hanapbuhay,” Arevalo said.

The AFP on Friday unveiled Development Support and Security Plan Kapayapaan or Oplan Kapayapaan.

The campaign plan, which replaced Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan, would “highlight and enhance the new and renewed role of the AFP towards nation building, especially in relation to the direction” set by Duterte, Arevalo said in an earlier interview. —Erwin Colcol/KBK, GMA News