Why the military is having hard time pursuing Abu Sayyaf bandits

MANILA, Philippines - Bad weather and the mingling of bandits with civilians pose challenges to government forces chasing the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, the military said Tuesday.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said the terrorists’ camps are located within civilian communities, making it necessary for soldiers to be deliberate.

“The rains there are continuous. Second, the (Abu Sayyaf) camp is actually a community. It’s not the usual camp with physical barriers and trenches,” Cabunoc said.

“Part of the challenge is the mixing of bandits with innocent civilians,” he added.

Cabunoc said military operatives had found civilians in the area where the seized Abu Sayyaf camps are located.

“[Joint Task Group Sulu commander] Col. [Alan] Arrojado said they even found civilians picking lanzones. They were in a hurry because they were afraid of soldiers,” the military spokesman said.

“Fortunately, the soldiers were with a former MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) member and they were told not to be afraid of soldiers because they do not harm innocent civilians,” he added.

The military has yet to encounter the bandits, who are still holding about 10 people hostage. Security officials, however, are optimistic that they would catch the terrorists in due time.

“We have to validate whatever information we get. We cannot disclose them. We do not want to compromise the conduct of operations on the ground,” Cabunoc said.

Security forces have launched law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf militants behind the abduction of German nationals Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrite Dielen and 10 other persons.

Three abandoned Abu Sayyaf camps have been seized by the military in Patikul, Sulu since Sunday.

Okonek and Dielen were kidnapped last April in their yacht in Rio Tubattaha off Palawan.

After six months of captivity, the two hostages were freed Friday night in one of the barangays in Patikul.

The Abu Sayyaf claimed that the hostages were released after they had received the full ransom of P250-million.

Military officials kept mum on the group’s claim even as they claimed that the hostages were freed due to “intensified law enforcement operations.”