AFP considers safety of hostages during operation vs ASGs

MANILA— While the military has expressed willingness to go after the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists with all their available combat power, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said they will do so with the least cost of violence and life.

He made this statement when asked to comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to bomb or blast fleeing ASG despite the brigands still having several hostages.

“We get all these guidance and look at it seriously but in the implementation of those guidance, we apply our skills and our operational art,” Padilla said in Filipino.

And by operational art, the AFP spokesperson is referring to military skill sets that will allow them, if possible, to rescue the hostages without endangering them and ensuring their security.

As of this posting, ASG terrorists are believed to have in their custody between 27 to 28 kidnap victims.

And while prepared to carry out the Chief Executive’s instructions to eliminate and prevent the ASG from conducting kidnapping raids, Padilla said it is the military commanders purview on how to accomplish the mission.

“(The AFP) is prepared to carry out the President’s directive, but we will also take consideration of the hostages’ lives while applying the full force of military resources and power in order to implement that. But as I was saying, it is now left to the commanders to be able to implement that in the best way possible, at the least cost of life and at the least application of violence,” he added.

 

Padilla also said the President’s order speaks of the latter’s commitment to remove the ASG threat once and for all.