New AFP chief vows unrelenting pressure against ASG, allied terror groups

“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. (Facebook photo)

MANILA – In the coming days, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will focus unrelenting pressure against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and its allied terrorist cells.

This was stressed by newly-appointed AFP chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya during his assumption speech at GHQ Grandstand, Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.

Present were President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, newly-appointed Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, former president Fidel V. Ramos and other ranking military leaders.

“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.

And to ensure this, Visaya said the AFP will have to think 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 start 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.