By Roel Pareño
JOLO, Sulu , Philippines – Security forces have been ordered to sustain the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and to finish them off within a six-month deadline as ordered by President Duterte.
“The Armed Forces, the PNP (Philippine National Police) will sustain the operations against the Abu Sayyaf and we will try to finish them by the deadline,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told the troops here yesterday, reminding them of the six-month order of Duterte that started last January.
Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS), expressed optimism they would meet the deadline.
Sobejana said they have all the resources of the Armed Forces to back their operations.
“We are confident we can even finish the job in less than six months,” Sobejana said.
“We are using all the might of the Armed Forces,” he added.
Sobejana said the military has started using TA-50 fighter jets against the militants.
Lorenzana led the top security officials in the visit here yesterday to assess the situation.
He was accompanied by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año and commanders of the different military service units.
Sobejana briefed Lorenzana and top officials on the situation against the Abu Sayyaf.
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