A day after newly-installed Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Delfin Bangit ordered an all-out offensive against the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group, a representative from the United States Armed Forces temporarily based in Mindanao expressed full support for the Philippine military to achieve its goal of eradicating transnational terrorism in the south within a two-month period.

LCdr John Perkins, deputy public affairs officer for the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), in an interview with reporters at Camp Aguinaldo, said they have faith over the AFP’s capability in the fight against terrorism.

“Whatever the AFP mission, we will support. So regardless of what is occurring there, we look for the AFP to do it. So if there is a mission that they require assistance, we are happy to help. If there is something to do, we will love to do that,” Perkins told members of the Defense Press Corps.

When asked if they believe the Philippine government can lick the global menace called terrorism, particularly in Mindanao, Perkins said: “Well first of all, we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe. We wouldn’t be in support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines if we did not have faith in their capability, if we do not believe we could provide some level of contribution to what is happening in the southern Philippines.”