Abaya takes over AFP today

Military Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya today officially becomes the 32nd chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Abaya will take over the helm of the AFP from Gen. Dionisio Santiago, who retires today on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Maj. Gen. Roy Kyamko, chief of the AFP’s Southern Luzon Command, replaces Abaya at Southcom.

Interviewed in Zamboanga City, Abaya said he would focus the AFP in waging war against terrorism.

"The Abu Sayyaf remained as the priority target in our fight against terrorism," Abaya said, citing the rebel group’s connection with foreign terrorist organizations.

He also vowed to cut down the terrorism launched by communist rebels in the country and said he would be strategizing the military’s effort in going after all other threat groups.

While the military supports the peace talks with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the incoming AFP chief said that under his command the military will continue its posture of active defense against the MILF, which was blamed for a series of bombings in Davao City recently.

"The military will conduct pursuit operations against the MILF perpetrators from massing its forces for attacks," he said. – Mike Frialde, Roel Pareño