MANILA, July 19 — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has expressed its gratitude to the United States for its commitment to provide two Cessna 208 aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support on the ongoing conflict with Maute Group terrorists in Marawi City.
“With regard to the reported expression of the US Ambassador (Sung Kim) that he is offering to send two surveillance aircraft to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in ISR operations against the terrorists, the AFP would like to express its gratefulness to this offer,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.
Combating terrorism is everybody’s concerns, hence this assistance is very valuable, he added.
“As it has always been said, and it has always been expressed by the AFP, the matter of combating terrorism and terrorism itself is a global concern, it’s everybody’s concern, its every nation’s desire to quell that’s why we welcome every pronouncement and expression of assistance and actual giving of assistance to the AFP with regard to this kind of assistance or help for us to be able to defeat the terrorist group,” Arevalo said.
Kim earlier announced that the provision of two Cessna 208 for ISR missions in Marawi City highlights the Philippines and US’ long-standing alliance. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
