Southcom chief vows to crush Sayyafs

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military remapped its operational pace to flush out the Abu Sayyaf and rescue all the remaining 18 hostages, including the American couple, still in the hands of the bandits hiding in the jungle of Sampinit complex in Basilan province.

Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, who will assume the leadership of the Southern Command today, has already met with the tactical commanders of the military running after the bandits.

Cimatu called on Filipinos not to be shaken by the terroristic attacks especially the recent attack in New York and Washington.

"This incident should strengthen our resolve to exterminate terrorism especially those perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf," he said.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva revealed that Cimatu, before taking over, had met with the tactical commanders and rematted the operational plan to speed up its offensive against the bandits.

The hostage crisis has already entered its fourth month with at least 8,000 military forces running after the bandits in the mountainous forest of Basilan. — Roel Pareño