November 15, 2001, The Philippine Star, US Pacific commander-in-chief vows aid to finish off Sayyaf, by Roel Pareno,

November 15, 2001, The Philippine Star, US Pacific commander-in-chief vows aid to finish off Sayyaf, by Roel Pareno,

The United States has pledged to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) "finish off" the Abu Sayyaf which has bedeviled the country with high-profile kidnappings and murders over the past few years. 

Adm. Dennis Blair, commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Command, said details of such help will be announced when President Arroyo meets with US President George W. Bush in Washington next week. 

"Our objective would be to make the campaign more effective... We have to finish this thing off," Blair told reporters after a dinner meeting with the President Tuesday. 

Blair flew to Zamboanga City yesterday to meet with officials of the Southern Command (Southcom) which is fighting the Abu Sayyaf extremists in Basilan. 

Blair arrived at the Edwin Andrews Air Base here with AFP chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and was whisked under heavy guard to meet Southcom officials, who are leading some 7,000 troops pursuing the Abu Sayyaf group. 

A handful of plainclothes US security personnel with submachine guns joined armored personnel carriers, soldiers and police securing the city for Blair’s visit. 

The Abu Sayyaf, suspected of having links with the al-Qaeda international terrorist network of Osama bin Laden, are still holding American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and eight Filipino hostages. 

The admiral said he recognizes the impact of the Abu Sayyaf not only on the security situation but on the economy as well. 

"With the Abu Sayyaf on the loose, my friends in the US — who would otherwise like to come and visit — go to other places. I know that foreign business groups are also discouraged about investing and working in parts of the Philippines because of the threat," he said.