Monday, February 05, 2007
Gov't should develop Sayyaf-infiltrated areas to counter terror: military chief (10:25 a.m.)
MANILA -- Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said there is a need to institute development programs in areas infested by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group to prevent its neutralized leaders from being replaced by homegrown terrorists.
Esperon said the other phase of the government's approach should be put in place as a follow-up to the ongoing military operations to defeat the al Qaeda-linked terrorist group that is being blamed for a number of terror attacks in the country.
He said the government has to win the "hearts and minds of the people in the region so that the people won't have any reason to fight the government and its instruments or support the Abu Sayyaf Group, which has about 400 full time members.
"If, after the battles, you leave the area to their own without putting in development, then for sure, other groups will rise and take the leaders from these neutralized leaders," the military chief said. (VR) |
