July 21, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippine navy to intensify intelligence operations against Abu Sayyaf,

July 21, 2003, The Philippine Star, Philippine navy to intensify intelligence operations against Abu Sayyaf,

The Philippine Navy will intensify intelligence operations and patrols as part of government efforts to combat the regional terrorism threat as well the Abu Sayyaf Islamic kidnap gang.

Navy chief Vice-Admiral Ernesto de Leon said he has also ordered local navy commanders to work closely with other military and police units when carrying out operations.

Because of the navy's limited capabilities, its special units such as the Marines would also undergo training in carrying out precision strikes, De Leon said.

"We should capitalize on stealth instead of numbers to perform surgical strikes employing tactics and techniques of ground warfare against small enemy formations," he said in a meeting with commanders at the Navy headquarters in Manila last Friday [18 July].