AFP to press hunt vs 'weakened' Abu Sayyaf

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said government troops will continue hunting down the much-weakened Abu Sayyaf, saying intense operations have significantly diminished the group's capabilities. AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said Abu Sayyaf bandits have been forced to "lie-low," noting that clashes in Sulu and Basilan between the military and the al Qaeda-linked group have dwindled in recent days. "This is now the result of the recent encounters of the intense in operations, talagang sinasadya nilang mag-lie low but it is during these times when exactly we will have to pursue them because they are at their weakest – weakest in terms of organization and in terms of finances," Esperon said. Esperon added that the discovery of an Abu Sayyaf cell in Palawan earlier this month indicated that the group still has the capability to travel to the island and may have targets in the area. But he said the discovery also indicated the high level of vigilance of military forces in Palawan. Esperon said troops are looking into the possibility that the Abu Sayyaf is planning another spate of kidnapping of tourists in Palawan. "We can assume one that they were driven to Palawan because of the pressure in Sulu and Basilan. We can also assume that they could have targets there but we must remember that whatever their plans are, we were able to interdict them," Esperon said. - GMANews.TV