MANILA, July 22 - American and Philippine military forces have launched a joint operation to capture the leader of Abu Sayyaf, a small terrorist group that has kidnapped scores of people and beheaded several, including one American, United States and Philippine military officials said this week.

The operation is in a marshy area on the island of Mindanao, parts of which are controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a separatist group that has been at war with the Philippine government for two decades. Many American officials argue that the Moro group also should be declared a terrorist organization.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/23/in...ilippines.html

Yes, actualy when I was serving active duty with the Marine Corps, we were a part of operations against Abu Syaaf, so this is nothing new, it's been going on since the beginning of the War on Terror, just has been kept pretty quiet, which President Bush had even mentioned in one of his State of the Union speeches.

A guy I used to share an apartment with some years told me that his mother was born in Mindanao: that was a terrible period for the people, when the AS group was kidnapping lots of people and executing them.

AS is a newer Verision of the Huk's and the NPA. Same players different names. They've been a big problem in the PI for years.

When I was on a West Pac with the 31st MEU (SOC), we were briefed quite frequently on the AS. The intel we were getting said they rarely fight in the rain or at night. Also at night, they construct bonfires in their camps. What the hell were they thinking?

Done some research about Abu Sayyaf Group most prominent figures, for the benefit of those who might not be familiar with what is going on in the southern Philippines.

ALDAM TILAO aka ABU SABAYA Sabaya, whose flamboyant character made him a natural for the job of ASG spokesman, made his media debut only on April 2000. A veteran of the Chad wars in central Africa and a former Moro National Liberation Front Bangsamoro member. Sabaya took up engineering courses in Zamboanga A.E. Colleges.



KHADAFFY JANJALANI aka DAF/PEK Only 26 years old, Khadaffy Janjalani is the youngest in a brood of five (which includes the oldest, the late Ustadz Abdurajack, and the second to the youngest Hector). "Daf" took up Islamic studies in Marawi City, and received a crash course in military training in Pakistan. Recognized as the "Amir" of the Basilan group. Married to Sherma, his first cousin and the daughter of Ustadz Hussein Manatad, one of the religious directors of the Tabuk, Mosque in Isabela, Basilan.



GALIB ANDANG aka COMMANDER ROBOT Andang joined the group in 1995. A smoker (a habit not allowed among Muslim fundamentalists), 'Robot' gained notoriety as a rapist and outlaw in Sulu. He is a relative of top MNLF leaders and local politicians in the southern provinces. Led the kidnapping in the Malaysian dive resort of Sipadan.


MUJIB SUSUKAN aka MUJIB Son of MNLF leader Commander Susukan, Mujib is the known as the silent-type operator; a high school drop-out. Together with Sabaya sports long hair and has a penchant for wearing sunglasses. Susukan's father carved a legend as the first MNLF fighter who shot down an Air Force plane.


BASILAN BASED ASG

HECTOR JANJALANI, Hector is businessman by profession, and involved in various trading activities. It was the perfect cover for an intelligence officer. Compared to his younger brother Khaddafy, Hector is more outspoken. Arrested in December 22, 2000 by Manila police in the Quiapo underpass, and currently detained at Camp Crame.



Here they are:

And they operate here:

Interesting, I remember arguing with a Phillippine girl about this, when Special Ops were sent there in late 2001/early 2002, she was saying they do not engage in actual combat, they're are just training existing military units and providing support. She said it's against the Philippine constitution to use foreign military on Philippine soil. I said that we only know tiny bits of what is actually happening, and that if SOC is engaged, then they are most likely participating. She didn't believe me though.

The story was kept under wraps, with very scarce information, was fairly obvious that they're doing more than just training.

There is a constitutional ban on foreign troops fighting on Philippine soil. 'Nuff said on that issue.

Yeah but it's not the US has a history of respecting other nation's sovereignty heh.

Originally Posted by vargsriket

Yeah but it's not the US has a history of respecting other nation's sovereignty heh.

What are you implying? It has been that way in my memory. When operating in the PI even when we had bases in place, you operated under their rules.