I just want to comment on Julie Alipala’s news report (“Abu Sayyaf protecting kidnap victims—Army,” Across the Nation, 11/17/14) and Ramon J. Farolan’s column titled “The soldier” (Opinion, 11/17/14). Both these releases are well written.
Once upon a time, Jolo in Sulu and Basilan were very peaceful towns. Especially Jolo, the “California of the Philippines,” where you can enjoy the various fruits and white beaches at Patikul. The Quezon Beach can be compared to Boracay and El Nido.
This senseless killing of our military personnel by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) should once and for all be stopped by our political leaders. An all-out war should be the solution, like what Erap Estrada did in Lanao when he was the president of our country. What our leaders need is just political will.
I will suggest that we ask Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City, for their best solution to once and for all wipe out the Abu Sayyaf so we will have complete peace and order in Jolo, Basilan and the whole of Mindanao.
—SEVERINO H. TAN,
senior citizen,
Jolo, Sulu