ILIGAN CITY, June 28 (PIA TFBM ICCC) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to engage a deliberated military operation against the remnants of Maute-ISIS inspired group and to capture the current terrorist leader Abu Dar eluded from the last year’s Marawi Siege.
Joint Task Force Ranao (JTFR) Deputy Commander Col Romeo Brawner Jr. said the AFP is in control of the current situation.
“This is a product also of the intelligence operations, of course yung cooperation ng ating local government units at ng mga residente, nabuo po natin intelligence package, so we are waiting for the opportunity, ngayon po nagkaroon ng oportunidad na tirahin itong grupo ni Abu Dar [This is a product also of the intelligence operations, of course in cooperation of the local government units and the residents, we formed the intelligence package, while we are waiting for the opportunity, now we got the opportunity to hunt Abu Dar’s group,” Brawner stressed.
The military is in close coordination with local government of Tubaran and Department of the Interior of Local Government (DILG) all throughout the operations to ensure the safety of the residents affected by the ongoing military activities.
“Tinutulungan po natin yung ibang mga ahensya ng gobyerno na tumutulong sa mga evacuees, ang role po ng armed forces is to make sure na ligtas sila at secured yung mga evacuation centers [we are assisting the government agencies in securing and assisting the IDPs or the internally displaced persons. It is our task to make sure that our evacuees are safe in the evacuation centers],” Brawner noted that the military prioritizes the safety of all civilians during the continuing army operations.
Col Brawner sees that the ongoing pursuit operations will not take any longer as what had happened during Marawi Siege.
“Ang panawagan lang natin sa ating mga kababayan ‘wag po silang magpanic dahil po armed forces at ang ating mga LGUs, we are in control of the situation. Hindi na po sila kailangan magpanic o mabahala but we are doing everything para maging safe ang mga evacuees at yung mga ibang residente ng ating mga karatig-bayan,” Brawner assures the general public.
He added, “yung mga army natin dito nakapalibot sil’a dun sa area, so that hindi po to mag-spill over ‘dun sa ibang areas, at the same time nakaalerto po yung ating mga tropa pati na rin po yung kapulisan, so that in case, kung magkaroon ng diversionary attacks by sympathizers of Maute ay kaya pa rin nating i-address po.”
Currently, about 40 Maute-ISIS remnants are being hunted by the AFP at Tubaran town. Five of them was reportedly killed during pursuit operations. (LJKabagani/PIA ICCC)
By: Lady Jean Kabagani
