AFP to employ ‘shock and awe’ strategy in war vs ASG

Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Photo: AFP/Facebook)

MANILA—The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will employ a “shock and awe” strategy in defeating the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) menace in Basilan and Sulu.

This was stressed by newly-appointed AFP Chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya Monday.

“There will be ‘shock and awe’ (in the campaign against the ASG) but I won’t go into specifics because this will (disclose our) strategy and tactics,” he added.

“Shock and awe” is a military doctrine based on the use of overwhelming power and spectacular displays of force to paralyze the enemy’s perception of the battlefield and destroy its will to fight.

Visaya earlier said the AFP will direct unrelenting pressure against the ASG and its allied terrorist cells.

“We will be unrelenting in our focused military operations against terrorist groups like the ASG and all its allied terrorist cells. We will reallign military resources to their identified bailiwicks and sanctuaries and apply our military strength to suppress them, hunt them down and finish them,” Visaya stressed.

“We will continue to apply the full force of the law 24/7 to go after these criminals and profit-seeking elements who operate under the guise of religious fervor and holy war,” he added.

To ensure this, Visaya said the AFP will have to boost its armament acquisition program to further beef up its capacity and capability to search and engage these rogue and lawless elements.

“Over and above our role to run after the terrorists, we will also intensify our support to law enforcement agencies, particularly the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in their mission to eliminate widespread criminality and the wanton destruction of lives brought about by the spread and use of illegal drugs,” he added.

“We will star the same advocacy with our ranks by continuously weeding out those scalawags who use drugs, who have links with illegal groups and activities. then we will proceed to build alliances with our counterparts to bring down syndicates and other organized crime groups,” the AFP chief pointed out.