AFP welcomes President Duterte offer of PHP1-M for info on arrest of remaining ASGs in Bohol

“The offer of the President was a welcome move and we thank the Commander-in-Chief for this. Hopefully, this will encourage informants and other concerned citizens to help expedite the arrests of these bandits,” Padilla said. (Photo: TOTO LOZANO/Presidential Photo)

MANILA–President Rodrigo Duterte’s willingness to give PHP1 million cash reward to anyone who can pinpoint the exact location and whereabouts of the remaining Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Bohol will help expedite the neutralization of these brigands.

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla in an interview Wednesday.

In the same vein, the military official expressed its thanks to the Chief Executive and called the reward announcement a welcome move.

“The offer of the President was a welcome move and we thank the Commander-in-Chief for this. Hopefully, this will encourage informants and other concerned citizens to help expedite the arrests of these bandits,” Padilla said.

As of this posting, around five to seven ASG stragglers are believed to be roaming in Bohol.

Military patrols are still ongoing in a bid to arrest and neutralize these stragglers.

These are the survivors out of the party of 11 led by ASG sub-leader Muanmar Askali alias “Abu Rami” who were intercepted by military forces at Sitio Ilaya, Barangay Napo, Inabanga town last April 11.

In the clash, Askali and three other bandits were killed along with three soldiers and a police officer.

Two elderly civilians were reported killed in the firefight.

The AFP earlier said Askali’s group was out to kidnap local and foreign tourists in the province as part of their fund raising efforts.