He also stated that President Rodrigo Duterte is the only one who can determine whether the martial law should be withdrawn or not in the Mindanao Island.
Esperon called out to the public to try and understand the president and give martial law a chance to resolve the threats of terrorism in the region of Mindanao.
Abu Sayyaf which is unofficially known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Philippines Province, a Jihadist militant group that is based in the Philippines for more than four decades.
The violent group was known to be responsible for the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines.
The terrorist group had carried out several bombings, kidnappings, assassinations, and extortions which they called as their fight for an independent Islamic province in the country.
Abu Sayyaf have abducted at least 20 journalists since the 2000 who are mostly foreign and eventually releasing them after getting the ransom.
And now recently, President Rodrigo Duterte the Abu Sayyaf led by their local leader Hapilon have been working together with the Maute group to cause terror in Marawi City, Mindanao and have shown their "clear intention to establish an Islamic State".
One of the four other problems Mindanao is facing is the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters or BIFF.
BIFF is a small Islamist militant organization based in Mindanao, Philippines and is mostly active within Maguindanao and other places in central Mindanao. It is also a divergent group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which was founded by Ameril Umbra Kato.
One of the latest gunfight between BIFF and government troops was the Mamasapano Clash (codenamed Oplan Exodus). The plan was to take out wanted Malaysian terrorist and bomb-maker Zulkifli Abdhir and other Malaysian terrorists or high-ranking members of the BIFF.
Unfortunately, forty four (44) of the Special Action Force and five civilians faced their deaths while 18 from the MILF and BIFF including Zulkifli Abdhir died which was confirmed by the FBI and PNP.
Despite the plan being a success, the deaths of the 44 SAF troopers became controversial as to why the terrorist group members overkilled them. One trooper was shot on the head when he was still very much alive, bullet proof vest was removed from the other.
On the other hand is the New People's Army is an armed communist group of the CPP and was formed by Bernabe Buscayno on The US State Department considers it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and as a terroris group by the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.
NPA rebels attacked a military detachment Cateek town of Davao Oriental. Government troops were outnumbers by the 40 NPA attackers who were in different positions around the patrol base. A soldier was wounded while residents states that 2 of the NPA rebels were severely wounded.
Duterte Administration declared and all-out-war against the communist rebels but Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the president is still open for peace talks.
Lastly, Duterte Administration's war against drugs is the most controversial around the world so far. Several small-time drug pushers and manufacturers have been killed during manhunt and raid operations for fighting back to the government authorities.
The drug syndicate in the country is protected by prominent political personalities and businessmen both local and from international. The drug syndicate has rooted deeply within the country which hinders the hard working president from getting rid of it, given the fact that many opposes and criticizes the president's efforts, even filing charges in the ICC to vindict him for the drug war.
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Source: PTV4
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