Coddlers of the Abu Sayyaf

We all know that poverty feeds insurgencies and Islamic extremist movements in Mindanao. With the state of the economy and the government’s finances, the battle against poverty will take a long time to win. Which means the impo-verished areas of Mindanao will continue to serve as fertile ground for rebel recruitment, and even terrorist groups can gain adherents if they know how to spread largesse around.

Poverty can’t be eradicated overnight, but it is possible to fight lawlessness and terrorism. No matter how neglected by the government some Mindanao residents might feel, few of them are likely to condone kidnapping, rape, mutilation and decapitation of innocent people. Even Islamic leaders in Mindanao have condemned such atrocities perpe-trated by the Abu Sayyaf, which has staged another vicious attack in an apparent attempt to show that the group is far from defeated.

Eradicating this scourge will require resolute military and police action combined with strong leadership at the grassroots — the type of leadership that can galvanize residents into driving away threats to their livelihood and peaceful existence. These factors, unfortunately, have been lacking in the decade-long battle against the Abu Sayyaf. Fr. Cirilo Nacorda, parish priest of Lamitan town in Basilan, who was once held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf, expresses the frustration of many when he laments that the group continues to flourish because it enjoys the protection of certain military and local government officials.

Such talk has persisted for years, becoming more strident when the Abu Sayyaf raided the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan in 2000 and brought back foreign hostages to Sulu. While awaiting ransom for the hostages, the Abu Sayyaf grabbed more captives — mostly journalists, all of whom were freed in exchange for cash. Back then there were reports that some of the payoffs were made in the home of a local government official, in the presence of military officers. Such talk was revived when the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf faction raided a resort in Palawan last year. Three ranking military officers could soon face court-martial on charges of collusion with the Abu Sayyaf.

There are many reasons why the Abu Sayyaf has survived two administrations and has vowed to outlive the present one. Some of the reasons will take years to address adequately. But others can be tackled immediately. The government can start by going after public officials who are abetting Abu Sayyaf activities or benefiting from the group in any way. These officials are parties to terrorism and must be dealt with decisively.