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State of calamity declared in Basilan amid offensive vs Abus

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ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-social"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oK1RsofG4zw" width="510"></iframe></figure>Basilan has been placed under a state of calamity amid the ongoing military operations against the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.Basilan Governor Jim Hataman-Salliman told ANC&#x27;s Dateline Philippines on Monday that they declared the state of calamity to be able to buy relief goods for the approximately 2,000 families displaced by clashes.He said the state of calamity may be in place for two to three months, or &quot;for as long as there is a problem that needs the state of calamity declaration.&quot;The towns of Ungkaya Pukan, Al-Barka, and Tipo-tipo are affected by the clashes.The decision leading to this declaration of state of calamity, he added, was done in cooperation between the military and the local government, which agreed to help in fast-tracking the resolution of the Abu Sayyaf problem.&quot;Ang kaibahan lang talaga dito sa Basilan ngayon is first time nagkaroon ng coordinative initiative between the local government and the military. Tulong-tulong lahat ng resources, ibubuhos doon sa campaign,&quot; he said.Salliman, meanwhile, said he does not believe allegations that some soldiers are in collusion with the bandits.&quot;So far, sa Basilan, wala naming nangyari na ganyan. Ang relationship ng local government at saka ng military, very cordial at saka andoon yung respect sa isa’t isa. Sa dako ng local government, malaking tulong din yung military, hindi lang sa military aspect,&quot; he said.<figure class="op-social"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEheIsGM8Ec" width="510"></iframe></figure>Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla also denied such allegations.&quot;The attempt to break the ranks of the military lately with all the news does not demoralize the ranks. The officers are full bent in accomplishing their mission, their focus,&quot; he said.Padilla said one of the biggest challenges the military is addressing is wooing the local populace into the side of the government, &quot;so that in this fight, the people with whom the enemies of the state and these bandits were mingling about are on our side,&quot; he said.This, he said, is helped by the fact that the military is now engaging with the local government.Padilla also said the Abu Sayyaf has suffered heavy losses in recent clashes .In the island of Jolo, they were able to verify that nine members of the militant group died and 13 were wounded.

Basilan has been placed under a state of calamity amid the ongoing military operations against the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.