Fight against terror in Mindanao doesn’t end with neutralization of leaders – AFP

By Ronron
January 26, 2007

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) may be in high spirits these days after a series of successful operations in Sulu that led to the neutralization of the top two leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and many key followers.

But the commander of the unit doing the ground works admits that despite all the praises the AFP is receiving, including from the international community headed by the United States government, the battle will not end in the complete neutralization of the terrorist group, which also coddles members of Jeemah Islamiyah (JI).

“The effort in Sulu will not end there. It must be continuous… My suggestion is … problem should be approached in a wholistic manner or wholistic approach,” Brig. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of the AFP’s Joint Task Force Comet tasked to run after the terrorists in the jungles of Sulu, said in a recent interview.

The AFP has so far neutralized ASG chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani, second leader Abu Solaiman (Jainal Antel Sali, Jr. in real life), ASG Urban Terrorist Group leader Binang Sali, subleader Jundam Jamalul (alias Black Killer), and many other key operatives, including one JI member.

On Wednesday night, over 70 of the AFP officers and men who were involved in the Mindanao operations were treated to a special dinner at Malacanang Palace and given due recognitions. Some of them were accorded on-the-spot promotions by no less than their commander-in-chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

But Rafael said: “This time around, whether it’s the final battle… it is always difficult.”

That is why, he said, the government troops in Sulu will “always expect the worst thing that will happen” as they continue the operations there.

Rafael emphasized that the death of the key ASG leaders does not make the battle easy for them because in every operation, “what is at stake is the life of the soldier.”

“Whoever is the leader that they will get (to replace Janjalani), we will go after them… I have enough forces there to go after this (group),” Rafael said. The AFP has more than 7,000 troops in Sulu, who were deployed since it launched Operation Plan (OPLAN) Ultimatum last August 1, 2006.

Rafael did not underestimate the remnants of the ASG, saying they will always have the capability to launch terrorist activities.

But he said these will not be as bold as those orchestrated by their fallen leaders, citing for example subleader Radullan Sahiron’s old age and poor health (he is reportedly suffering from diabetes).

In fact, the strategy of “targeting the center of gravity” of the ASG proved to be effective for the military since it left the members on their own, without a single direction to take, said Rafael.

He did not give a deadline or timeframe as to when the battle will be over but he said they will just speed up their operations to finish off the ASG the soonest, in accordance with the guidance set by Arroyo.

The ASG was formed in the late 1980’s as al-Harakatul al-Islamiyyah (Islamic Movement) by Janjalani’s elder brother initially with a similar objective as that of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which is to seek independence from the Catholic-dominated Philippine government and establish an Islamic State for the Bangasamoro (Moro nation).

Over the years, it resorted to kidnappings and bombings, among others, that earned for it the title of a terrorist group by various governments./DMS