President Aquino declared that security forces would not stop until the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to communities has ended, warning the public to expect casualties.
Faced with alleged plots to assassinate him, kidnap boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, and sister Kris Aquino, as well as launch bomb attacks in Metro Manila, Aquino has vowed to employ the ?full might of the State? to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf militants.
?The full resources of the State are being brought down on the ASG. Our primary objective is to rescue the hostages and ensure the safety of our civilian population,? Aquino said in a statement.
President Aquino (MB file photo/Richard V. Vi?as)
?Casualties are to be expected. But what has to be of utmost importance is neutralizing the criminal activities of the ASG,? he added.
Aquino said he was ready ?to devote all my energies towards ensuring that, at the very least, this will be a very seriously degraded problem that I will pass on to my successor.?
This was the President?s first statement since Canadian hostage John Ridsdel was decapitated by the Abu Sayyaf. Ridsdel, one of the hostages taken from Samal Island in September 2015, was killed last Monday (April 25, 2016) after the terror group?s ransom deadline passed. ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads
Aquino said he was ?so appalled? by the murder of Ridsdel and has sent a letter of condolences to his family. ?Mr. Ridsdel was a person against whom no one had any grievance?a person who was powerless against his captors,? he said.
Aquino said the Abu Sayyaf thought they could instill fear but instead have ?galvanized us even further to ensure justice is meted out. We have always been open to talks with those who desire peace; but those who commit atrocities can expect the full might of the State,? he added.
In the same remarks, the President bared that the Abu Sayyaf has plotted attacks, including bombings in Metro Manila, ?to catch the attention of ISIS? and gain access to the funds and resources from the foreign terror group.
?They allegedly even hatched plots to kidnap Manny Pacquiao or one of his children, as well as my sister Kris or one of her children, with the plan to use them in bargaining for the release of their cohorts,? Aquino said.
?Threats against my own life have been investigated,? he added.
In the remainder of his term, Aquino said his government intends ?to continue to seriously erode any ability of the ASG to continue to function.?
He said military operations against Isnilon Hapilon and his sub-leader Furuji Indama are being conducted in Basilan.
Intensive operations are also ongoing against Abu Sayyaf forces holding hostages in Sulu.
