Troops disrupt Abu pro-ISIS training

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – When troops killed fugitive Malaysian bomber Mohammad Najib Hussein, alias Abu Anas, in Basilan last December, they disrupted the Abu Sayyaf’s and other terrorists’ training to show support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Troops also captured the camp where Abu Anas provided training in bomb making and demolition to the Abu Sayyaf band of Isnilon Hapilon, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz said.

The camp had 28 fortified structures and 10 bunkers that can accommodate 250 people, he added.

It has been turned over to the local ceasefire monitoring team in Al-Barka, Dela Cruz said.

He said the military offensive last December disrupted the training of the Abu Sayyaf and its propaganda of showing the training of alleged supporters of the ISIS.

“Yes, it was a big disruption that we had accomplished,” he said. “In fact, the  operations are continuing.” 

The military has no conclusive evidence that the band of Hapilon and Abu Anas is affiliated or recognized by ISIS, Dela Cruz said.

In a published statement on a web-based news site, Rohan Gunaratra, a Singapore-based counterterrorism expert, warned that the Abu Sayyaf is supporting ISIS in preparation for establishing a local base as seen in the video footage posted last week showing its fighters hoisting the black flag while in training.

However, the military has no valid report or evidence on the funding for the Abu Sayyaf supposedly coming from ISIS to prove their alliance, Dela Cruz said.