Abu Sayyaf’s escalating violence due to political strife in Mindanao
Terrorists release a video in which they threaten to kill three more hostages. Source tells AsiaNews that Jihadi group’s greater activity has been facilitated by the election campaign for the governorship in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Militants are a “tool of political propaganda”. The region has one of the most corrupt governments in the country, and “has dealings with Jihadis”.
Manila (AsiaNews) – The recent escalating violence in the southern Philippines by Jihadi group Abu Sayyaf "is the result of the current political situation. On the one hand, senators are campaigning to raise funds; on the other, political tensions mar upcoming elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),” said a source (anonymous for security reasons).
The latter spoke to AsiaNews after a video surfaced showing three hostages (a Canadian, a Norwegian, and a Filipino) held by the militant group, saying if their demands are not met "we will be executed like our friend John".
John in this case refers to John Ridsdel, a Canadian who was abducted in September 2015 and beheaded on 26 April because ransom was not paid.
According to other sources, Abu Sayyaf could also be the group that released former PIME missionary Rolando Del Torchio on 8 April.
On 1 May, the terrorist group released ten Indonesian sailors, but it is not known whether a ransom was paid. According to the source, "their release came about through the cooperation of the MNLF*, which helped speed up the release to show that it controls the situation in the region”.
Abu Sayyaf is the smallest Islamic separatist group operating in the southern Philippines in terms of numbers but is the most dangerous and violent. It is particularly active in and around the provinces of Basilan and Sulu. The latter’s capital Jolo is the Jihadis’ stronghold.
Located in southern Philippines, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is divided into five provinces (Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi). It has its own government, based in Cotabato City. In next Monday’s election (9 May), voters will pick a new governor.
According to the source, Abu Sayyaf has benefited from the "political struggle between two Muslim leaders who are running for the highest office in the region. Sulu Provincial Governor Sakur Tan wants to show that he is better than [outgoing ARMM Regional Governor Mujiv] Hataman, and so he is creating tensions with the Jihadis in order to work out [later] a peaceful solution with them.”
Thus, Abu Sayyaf has become "a pawn and a tool of political propaganda. The ARMM has always been one of the most corrupt governments. Its governors have also had dealing with Jihadis, trying to manage them. A week ago, Army General Alan Arrojado resigned because he could no longer tolerate political games in the Armed Forces.”
More recently, Filipino forces have been involved in an offensive against Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan provinces, the source said.
“In Zamboanga City,” which is near Basilan, “Abu Sayyaf has become more active. However, when the army is active, the militants melt into the background, move around as ordinary folks, mixing with family and friends. People know this. It has become their modus operandi.”
* Moro National Liberation Front is a separatist group that reached an agreement with Manila in the 1990s for the creation of ARMM.
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