Interview: Major General Benjamin Dolorfino Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command

Destroying the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) "as soon as possible" is the primary focus of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM), according to its new commander, Major General Benjamin Dolorfino.

WESTMINCOM, a unified command that is also the largest in the AFP, has approximately 15,000 personnel at its disposal. The formation includes an army division, three marine battalions, plus navy and air force components.

While most of the current military action is being directed against the ASG and JI, WESTMINCOM also has the task of "holding and containing" the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

At his command induction ceremony on 16 July, Gen Dolorfino promised to intensify the campaign against Moro and communist rebels in the southern Philippines. Among his priorities is targeting what the AFP calls "rogue elements of the MILF" and what US military advisors term "lawless military elements".

Gen Dolorfino has first-hand experience of Islamic insurgent groups. In February 2007 he and his companions were "detained as guests" of the MNLF for two days in Sulu province after engaging in negotiations.

After being in the job for just six weeks, Gen Dolorfino has already instigated an upsurge in the operational tempo against the ASG and JI, resulting in more engagements with the enemy.

On 12 August an offensive by 400 Philippine troops was launched against a primary ASG stronghold near Tipo-Tipo on the southern island of Basilan.

Gen Dolorfino said it was estimated that the ASG was down to a little over 300 members and the aim was to take out the leadership that formed the ideological core of the group. Operation Tuparin thus targeted high-value ASG individuals being protected in MILF safe havens in Basilan.