President Marcos has lauded government forces in Mindanao for successfully minimizing the threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other enemies of the state in the province.

Marcos said this during his visit to the headquarters of the 11th Infantry Division (ID) in Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu, on Friday, July 5.

In his speech, the President saluted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their achievement but asked them to not be complacent as the mission to destroy the government’s nemesis is not yet over.

“I have to congratulate all of you who have worked to achieve this success, who have worked very hard and have made many sacrifices so that we can now say that the capabilities of the main threat, which is the ASG, have been severely reduced,” he said.

“Now, that does not mean that the mission is over. As you can imagine, mayroon pa diyan na papasok na baka gustong mag-organize ulit kaya’t kailangan pa rin nating bantayan,” he added.

According to Marcos, he was briefed by the military command in Sulu on the very constant drop in the insurgents’ capabilities, manpower, and number of firearms they possess.

“Ang assessment na nga ay yung (The assessment is the) threat is only from individual actors. Wala na silang units na gumagalaw as a unit (They are no longer working as a unit)," he said.

"They are … basically (neutralized)... We have dismantled their machinery for causing, for bringing terror,” he added.

Marcos said he was also informed about the diminishing threat posed by other terrorist groups, particularly those inspired by Al Qaeda or ISIS that used to enter the country before.

"Mukha namang hindi na … tayo masyadong nate-threaten tungkol sa ganyang klase (We're no longer threatened as we used to),” he said.

The President also mentioned AFP’s shift to external defense amid the emerging regional threats, particularly in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

He said the government carried out organizational change, especially the creation of a task force with a maritime force and the Navy. The goal is to beef up the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) presence and police the area.

“(I)to yung mga gagawin natin para maging mas secure tayo lalong-lalo na dito sa area ninyo (This is what we're doing to keep us more secured)," the Commander-in-Chief said.

“So, we just have to keep vigilant and to continue to watch what is going on and to make sure that namo-monitor natin lahat ng nangyayari (we are monitoring everything that is happening),” he added.