(Eagle News) — Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., said the Philippine government would be doing everything in its power to destroy the terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf, which had recently beheaded its German hostage Jurgen Kantner.
Speaking to CNN anchor Cristiane Amanpour, Yasay said that the Philippine military is poised to destroy the terrorist group as he, on behalf of the Philippine government, condemned the recent beheading of Kantner.
“We continue to make sure that we would be able to stem these terroristic activities of the Abu Sayyaf. In fact, our military is poised to really come up with a massive campaign to eliminate and destroy them,” said Yasay who was in Geneva, Switzerland where he addressed the United Nations Human Rights council.
“However, we are also concerned about the other hostages whom they have held. We would like to give paramount importance to the safety of all these hostages,” he added.
The Philippine government had earlier condemned the action of the Abu Sayyaf and expressed their deep condolences to the German people and the family of Kantner.
-Malacanang condemns beheading
“Definitely the Palace condemns this unspeakable crime and the President has bound himself in principle to make sure that things, these groups are neutralized,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.
“Again, we convey our deepest condolences to the German people and the family of Mr. Kantner and not only do we empathize but we also sympathize with them,” he said.
“However, I’m sure the President’s commitment is to ensure that these will be addressed and curtailed in the soonest possible manner,” Abella added.
On Monday, Yasay told the UN rights council that Manila would “destroy criminals” as he also defended the Philippine government’s war on illegal drugs.
“There can be no middle ground for the well-being of our people. We will not be kind,” Yasay told the opening of the 47-member council ‘s main annual session in Geneva.
“We will not hesitate to destroy criminals who seek the wholesale destruction of our society,” he added.
Yasay also told reporters on the sidelines that there were reports that “the Abu Sayyaf had decided to eliminate and neutralize this hostage [Kantner] because he was too sickly and infirm.”
“That he was more of a liability to them in their mobility. Whether or not that is true, that will have to be verified,” Yasay said.
He said the Philippines was seeking technological help from its allies to pinpoint the locations of remaining hostages and would stick to its tough “no ransom” policy.
“We will undertake our operations to make sure we give a premium to saving the lives of the hostages and precisely because of this our task has not been easy but we are prepared to crush them when the opportunity comes,” he said.
Last year, Abu Sayyaf beheaded two Canadians on Jolo but their two companions, a Filipino woman and a Norwegian, were freed.
The group has made tens of millions of dollars from ransom money since it was formed in the 1990s, security experts say, channeling it into guns, grenade launchers, high-powered boats and modern equipment.
Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding 26 hostages. (With a report from AFP and Reuters)