By Nonoy E. Lacson Isabela City – The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) has expressed fears about the possible delay in the  implementation and completion of  vital infrastructure projects scheduled this year  in Basilan province due to the persistent threat posed by the  Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on its officials and workers. DPWH-ARMM Basilan District Engineer Soler I Undug yesterday said renegade ASG leaders are threatening  them with harm should they  continue to refuse to extend them protection money. Undug said that if these series of threats will continue, the implementation and completion of vital government projects in the province might be delayed. According to Undug  the protection money that these ASG was asking for ranged from P200,000 or more,  in areas where  government projects were being implemented. “We, in the government service, are not authorized to deal with them, more so, to give protection money to rebels like the Abu Sayyaf Group where government project we are implementing,” Undug said. “We don’t deny that our fear is there, especially during our travel to the construction site as we might be ambushed by these ASG rebels anytime, while we are heading to the construction site  in the province aboard government service trucks and vehicles,” he said. According to reports, ASG leaders Jaid Mawalil and Nur Hassan were among  those who have been trying  to extort  money from the DPWH officials in the province. Mawalil is operating  in the towns of Tuburan, Moh Ajul, Akbar while Hassan is operating in the towns of Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan  and Lamitan City area, all in the province of Basilan. As this developed,  local residents have asked police and military authorities to conduct operations against the group in their suspected lairs in the province. They urged  the Joint Task Force Basilan, headed  by  Col Juvimax Uy, to conduct surgical operations in  known  ASG lairs in the province  in order to free the people  from possible ASG harassment. As martial law implementor in the province, they said Uy should show that the military is on top of the situation and can illuminate them (ASG) anytime  without fear, they said. A government official in the province said, they couldn’t feel the implementation of martial law in the province as they can still see people moving around in public with their firearms in their waists.