Basilan mayors call for stronger offensive vs Abu Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The mayors of Basilan province called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to intensify its military actions against the Abu Sayyaf group blamed for the spate of attacks, including the recent ambush and killing of six soldiers.

In a manifesto signed by the mayors of the 11 towns and one city on Wednesday, the local executives merged their sentiments following the spate of incidents that ranged from extortion, kidnappin, bombing activities targeting government officials, businessmen, and prominent families to the attack on the team of the late 2nd Lt. Jun Corpuz.

Among the signatories of the manifesto forwarded to the AFP headquarters were Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay; and town mayors Gulam Hataman (Sumisip), Tong Istarul (Tipo-Tipo), Alih Sali (Akbar), Duri Kallahal (Tuburan), Talib Pawaki (Mohammad Adjul), Darussalam Lajid (Al-Barka), Jomar Maturan (Ungkaya Pukan), Muktan Junaid (Tabuan Lasa), Rustam Ismael (Lantawan), Jamar Mansur (Hadji Muhtamad), and Indanan Daud (Maluso).

The local executives strongly condemned and denounced the terroristic activities of the Abu Sayyaf group which they claimed hindered the province’s development. 

The mayors said the existence of the Abu Sayyaf group in the province continued to pose threat to the peace, security and development of Basilan.

“We, the local leaders of Basilan, are asking the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to neutralize and intensify its military actions against the ASG to restore peace and order in our province,” a portion of the manifesto of the mayors stated.

Isabela City Mayor Cherry Santos-Akbar earlier called on the government forces to intensify the security operation after his city was not spared from the series of bomb attacks last month after extortion demands by the Abu Sayyaf were not heeded by the businessmen and local officials.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) district engineer for Basilan Soler Undog, who was among those victims of the bomb attacks after he rejected the extortion demand, said the Abu Sayyaf group was demanding P200,000 monthly from him.

He said the military has to improve its intelligence if it wants to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf group.

Rear Admiral Reynaldo Yoma, commander of the Joint Task Force Basulta, said an additional battalion of marines had arrived in Basilan Tuesday and augmented the Army forces in the offensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf group.

Yoma said part of the operation is to continue securing the village and various development projects while law enforcement alongside the police pursue the Abu Sayyaf group.

He said part of the operation is to give justice on the ambush and killing of six soldiers last Sunday in Barangay Libug, Sumisip town who were securing a road project.