Press Release
July 16, 2009

Zubiri calls for surgical strike against Abu Sayyaf

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri today urged the government and those proposing to grant amnesty to ailing senior members of the Abu Sayyaf Group to reconsider their position.

Zubiri insisted government "should not tolerate terrorist activities" by granting amnesty to their senior members.

The senator said government and lawmakers should be one instead in supporting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its pursuit against the Abu Sayyaf, which have caused havoc and terror among the innocent civilians -- not only to local residents but also to foreign nationals -- in Mindanao.

Zubiri narrated his experienced in the United Kingdom earlier this month, where he attended a meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as a delegate. He said members of the House of Commons, when asked about their impression of the Philippines or every time the members of the parliament of England would inquire about the country, they will also talk about the kidnappings of ASG in the southern region.

"The Abu Sayyaf Group has done great damage to the image of the country. All the Europeans and the member of their parliaments see in the Philippines is the kidnapping issue. That is why I fully support the instruction of Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro to our soldiers in Sulu and Basilan to press their defense harder and to finish off the Abu Sayyaf," Zubiri said.

The Majority Leader likewise re-stated his recommendation to the Armed Forces to launch surgical strikes to apprehend ASG bandits, especially their leaders.

"As a senator from Mindanao I support the all out peace negotiation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), but I'm also in full support for an all out surgical strike against the Abu Sayyaf Group. Let's talk peace with the MILF and let us crush the Abu Sayyaf. We should not tolerate terrorist activities because they are causing damage to the country in the international community," Zubiri stressed.

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