President Duterte’s AFP Chief Vows Justice For Soldier Beheaded By Abu Sayyaf Group

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año has vowed to give justice to the soldier beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) last week.

Chief Año said that they will make sure that justice will be given to Staff Sergeant Anni Siraji of the 32nd Infantry Battalion under the AFP Joint Task Force Sulu.

The AFP Chief also said that Siraji’s brutal death from the hands of his Abu Sayyaf captors only fueled the desire of government forces to destroy the enemy.

“His death in fact further ignited the burning desire or feeling of our troops to end the ASG,” Chief Año said.

“Actually, Siraji is not involved in actual combat. He is playing a major role in establishing relations with the community, liaisoning with the local government. He is very effective in doing that,” he added.

Chief Año said that Siraji might have been abducted by the group for his work in disrupting the terror group’s recruitment schemes.

“But you know in war you also respect you opponents, you do not really, what do you call that, do barbaric acts against your opponent. You have to respect what he is fighting for. But what they did to Siraji is inhuman, so we make sure that justice will be given to him,” he said.

Earlier, a military official also expressed belief that Siraji was beheaded due to his peace and progress initiatives in Sulu.

On Sunday, the military confirmed that Siraji was beheaded by his captors despite him being a Tausug.

Source: CNPH