Governor Mujiv Hataman (center) inspects the area where alleged Abu Sayyaf fighters killed six government troops on Sunday (Photo courtesy of Ronda del Basilan)
The governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Monday called for an all-out offensive against the Abu Sayyaf terror group after six government soldiers were killed in an ambush in Basilan province on Sunday.
"I am recommending an all-out offensive," said Governor Mujiv Hataman. He described the attack as a "cowardly act" by Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the international terror group al-Qaeda.
Hataman said the soldiers were on patrol in the town of Sumisip on Sunday morning when about 20 Abu Sayyaf fighters attacked them.
"[The soldiers] had nowhere to run," Hataman told ucanews.com in a telephone interview. "It was a disaster," he said, adding that the ensuing firefight lasted for about 45 minutes.
"We have to stop this senseless violence against our soldiers who are only trying to help implement projects for the people," Hataman said.
The troops were helping provide security for a multi-million dollar ring road project, which was started in 2011 and is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
President Benigno Aquino on Monday said "there will be no let-up in operations until we finish the [Abu Sayyaf]".
"We have several battalions, not just one or two or three, but several battalions composed of some of our most elite forces and regular line infantry battalions who are going to … mountain lairs and very heavily wooded jungle and dense areas to precisely deprive [Abu Sayyaf] of safe havens," the president said.
Armed forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang said the military would conduct a thorough investigation into Sunday’s incident.
Catapang said the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu have become "a never-ending story".