THE military on Friday rejected the call of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Founding Chairman Nur Misuari to stop the operations against the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu in order for him and his group to negotiate for the release of kidnap victims.

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., Armed Forces spokesman, said the intense operations against the bandits in Sulu and Basilan will continue despite Misuari’s plea.

“It is very important now for us to sustain the operation. That [halt of military operations] has happened before and it led to escape [of the enemies],” Padilla said.

“We will only give way to turnover or transfer [of hostages],” he added.

At least five kidnap victims have been released by the terrorists since last week, with the release having been facilitated through Misuari and his group in Sulu.

Four of the captives, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and four Indonesians were released on Saturday to a commander of the MNLF, who turned them over to Misuari.

This week another Indonesian was also freed to Misuari and his group before he was turned over to the Joint Task Force Sulu, led by Brig. Gen. Arnel de la Vega.

The military has maintained that the bandits have been forced to release the five as a result of the intense military operations in Sulu where more than 7,000 soldiers were operating.

It predicted that more captives would be freed, also due to the operations, which were ordered by President Duterte, who earlier ordered the Armed Forces to finish the ASG “to the last man.”

Misuari promised to help in freeing of the remaining Abu captives, which included five Malaysians, three Indonesians, a Dutch and two Filipinos, if the operations were suspended.

Padilla maintained that the military operations will continue, partly because the soldiers have the momentum to finish their mission.

“We believe that the military operations continues to pressure the Abu Sayyaf, and we are on the right track to finally decimate the enemies,” he said.

Padilla added that from about 480 fighters, the strength of the ASG has already decreased to around 300 since start of the intensified military operations.

Meanwhile, a former Abu Sayyaf camp on Basilan Island is back in government control.

The government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) held a one-day dental and medical mission on September 18 to residents of Barangay Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo town to symbolize the government’s taking control of the area.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, witnessed the turnover ceremony that day.

Lt. Col. Ernest John Jadloc, 74th Infantry Battalion commander, said the camp was seized after a month of operations involving members of the 18th and 64th Infantry Battalions, Scout Rangers and Special Forces troops.

ARMM Vice Gov. Haroun Alrashid Lucman Jr. and Party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman of Anak Mindanao attended the turnover ceremony.

The regional government’s humanitarian emergency action response team provided relief packs to 1,574 families in Barangay Baguindan and Barangay Silangkum and in Al-Barka town.

With Manuel Cayon