AFP chief Año welcomes additional police force in Basilan

BAGUIO CITY —Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Eduardo Año welcomed the arrival of additional police personnel in Basilan, saying the cops could help them in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf Group.

"Makakatulong din sa atin yung PNP. Makadadagdag ng manpower sa areas na iyan so mapi-free yung AFP forces sa mga lugar na iyan so we can have more warm bodies to run after the Abu Sayyaf," Año said in a late Saturday night press conference.

He said the AFP already talked to the PNP for bringing in additional forces in priority areas.

"Ang usapan po namin sa PNP, not only Basilan but they will beef up their forces in priority areas," he said.

He said the police will cover the urban areas while the military will be in charge of the rebel lairs.

"Their main job is to take care of town centers, urban centers so that the AFP will concentrate in the hinterlands," he said.

"Malaking tulong iyan sa mga urban at town centers lalo na sa pagmamanman ng mga checkpoint at pag-conduct ng mga civil-military operations," he added.

The PNP is set to take to Basilan on Tuesday some 200 police personnel ordered transferred by President Rodrigo Duterte due to complaints and cases they are facing. — LBG, GMA News