Arroyo orders troops to go after executioners of school principal

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has issued yet another directive to crush the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf, whose members are being blamed for the beheading of an elementary school principal in the southern Philippine province of Sulu. "The death of Mr. (Gabriel) Canizares will not be in vain. Rescue efforts will shift to punitive action. The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) joint operations are in full swing. We shall make them pay for the enormity of this savagery," deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said. Fajardo said President Arroyo is extending her condolences and prayers to the family of Canizares whose severed head was found at a gasoline station in Jolo early Monday morning. [See: Abductors behead school principal in Sulu] The principal of the Kanague Elementary School in Patikul town, Canizares was seized October 19 while riding a passenger jeepney. At the time of the incident, Canizares was with other teachers but he was the only one taken by the bandit group. [See: School principal abducted in Sulu] A P2-million ransom was reportedly demanded in exchange for the victim's release. 'Heinous crime' Fajardo assured the victim's family of the government support in coping with the tragedy. On the other hand, Press Undersecretary and deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said the President had already directed the police and military to form a joint task force that would investigate matter and do a massive manhunt on those responsible for the "heinous crime". "Pinahahalagahan ng Pangulo ang kabayanihan ng ating mga school teacher at kawani ng gobyerno na kung saan ay naging biktima sa karumaldumal na mga insidente sa Sulu, (The president appreciates the heroism of school teachers and government officials who in their call of duty have fallen victims of heinous crimes), " he said. Golez said he is not sure if the beheading has something to do with the impending visit of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week, but he also cited reports that the Abu Sayyaf maybe retaliating as the military has been scoring in its campaign against the bandit group in Mindanao. Golez, however, noted that regardless of whether Clinton is coming or not, the Abu Sayyaf had been engaged in similar activities to gain public attention. President Arroyo has repeatedly ordered government forces to crush the bandit group, which is said to be operating with members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), tagged as the arm of the al-Qaeda terror network in Southeast Asia. DepEd’s helplessness Meanwhile, as the Department of Education mourned the killing of Canizares, it likewise acknowledged its failure in fully securing education personnel in danger areas. Education Secretary Jesli Lapus noted that the beheading of Canizares was "unusual" because such fate usually takes place in Basilan and not in Sulu. "Sa Sulu, di ito ang signature na normal na ginagawa. Sa Basilan namumugot usually. Mukhang di ransom ang motibo rito (This beheading is not the usual signature act in Sulu. In Basilan, perhaps. There may be more to his killing)," he said. Local teachers As a security measure, Lapus said that they tried to assign locals to teach in the area, but the setup failed to live up to expectations. Lapus said most of the local teachers who were given temporary permits flunked a test after teaching for five years. The test was meant to renew their temporary teaching permits. “Siguro sa 10,000 nag-test wala pang 100 ang pumasa (Of about 10,000 who took the test, less than 100 passed it)," he said. He also said the DepEd has no capability to set up its own security force in Mindanao. “Kami ay walang kapangyarihan, di kami armado (We do not have the capability. We are not armed)," he said. - GMANews.TV