MILF, MNLF urged to help fight Abus

INSTEAD of using mercenaries to finally eradicate the Abu Sayyaf, an opposition lawmaker has called on the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front to show “goodwill” and help the government in its campaign against the terror group.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat on Monday urged both the MNLF and MILF to help the government forces by providing accurate intelligence.

“More than a military response to the Abu Sayyaf, especially in combating threats of terrorism, [what the government needs] is reliable and prompt intelligence,” Baguilat told the Inquirer in an interview in Quezon City on Monday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed more than 9,000 soldiers to Sulu to pursue and finish off the Abu Sayyaf.

On Sunday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in a Facebook post that President Duterte was open to hiring hatchet men or mercenaries to annihilate the terror group, which had just killed 15 soldiers.

On Saturday, the group at first claimed responsibility for the Davao City bombing the night before that killed 14 persons and wounded 67 but later retracted it.

“There’s no other option, these people are like germs that must be eliminated,” Piñol quoted the President as saying.

Jovic Yee