Philippine soldiers arrive at a camp after an armed encounter with members of the militant group Abu Sayyaf near Patikul in, Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao. (Photo by AFP)
A stepped-up military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group has forced at least 5,000 people to flee their homes in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, church sources said Sept. 7.
The Catholic Vicariate of Jolo announced that it has already launched relief efforts to help the government address the needs of displaced communities.
"Our efforts are limited to a few areas because of the military operation," said Ramona Pendon, social action coordinator of the vicariate.
"All our activities go through the military," she said, adding that villages in five municipalities of the province have been affected by the military operation.
On Sept. 7, the military reported that two Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed in a firefight, bringing to 32 the number of terrorists slain in a renewed campaign against the group.
The military said the Abu Sayyaf is holding 20 foreign and Filipino hostages in Sulu.
"Our priority is the safe rescue of the victims and the protection of local communities against terrorists and criminal elements," said Brig. Gen. Arnel de la Vega, commander of the military' operation in the area.
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to intensify efforts to destroy the Abu Sayyaf group following a deadly bomb blast that killed 15 people in Davao City last week.
"They will pay. How many lives were lost? Fifteen. Well, give me time. I will crush you all," the president said in a speech to Filipino expatriates in Vientiane, Laos.
Duterte said the terrorists "are beyond redemption."
"Let it be known to them that I will take revenge. You know I can eat humans. I will really open up your body.... I will eat you alive," said Duterte.
The president has placed the country under a "state of national emergency on account of lawless violence" to allow the deployment of soldiers in urban centers to prevent similar attacks in Davao.