WestMinCom's statement on the deadline given by the ASG to produce the ransom on their German hostage at 3pm today

By Jong D. Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 26, 2017 AFP)- With deadline or no deadline, the WMC troops are exerting all effort and means in order to go after the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf and to rescue all kidnap victims, foreign and local, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that the recent successes of the troops that resulted to the capture of two ASG members in Bongao, Tawi-tawi two weeks ago and the killing of 8 ASG members after an encounter in Capual, Sulu last February 7, indicate that the terrorist group have been badly reeling from these series of setbacks due to the government troops' operations and no longer have safe established encampments for them to hide their victims.

Petinglay added that the timeline given maybe due to the shortness of their funds and the need for them to establish new hiding areas. Nevertheless, the government forces in the entire WestMinCom together with the local government units and the communities are jointly addressing the problem brought about by the common enemy, the Abu Sayyaf group.

"Our troops are continuously conducting focused military operations to rescue the remaining hostages", MGen Galvez, the WestMinCom Commander said.

"We are calling for the people of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi for renewed cooperation in order to stop the un-Islamic and barbaric activities of the Abu Sayyaf particularly on the kidnapping of innocent civilians", he added.