DUTERTE

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines Tuesday launched airstrikes on two Sulu towns where Abu Sayyaf members were sighted following President Rodrigo Duterte's order to crush the terror group.

A report by GMA News said that one airstrike was unleashed on Patikul and the other on Indanan.

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A "24 Oras" news report, meanwhile, showed footage of the Philippine Army's Alpha Battery 8th Field Artillery Battalion firing a canon at an area where the Abu Sayyaf is located.

"We are utilizing all the military or AFP might against sa pagtugis nitong mga Abu Sayyaf… Wala namang ano ito e. Yung intensity as intense as before," Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said.

'All-out war'

On Monday, Duterte ordered the military to crush the Abu Sayyaf which is believed to be behind the twin bombings that hit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu.

"I order you now, pulpugin niyo ang Abu Sayyaf by whatever means," Duterte said during his visit to military and police forces at the headquarters of the Philippine Army's 11th Infantry Division at Barangay Bus-bus in Jolo, Sulu.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed Tuesday that Duterte has declared an all-out war against terror groups after he visited the blast site in Jolo.

"He just said all-out war, maybe against the perpetrators and for that matter all enemies of state in the region," Panelo said.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/30/1889345/military-unleashes-air-strikes-onsulu-after-dutertes-all-out-war-order#l6jPFQbMLq6A5XEj.99