Insights

ASG kidnap four more victims

On 16 July, four construction workers were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group from the Kawmpang Elementary School in the Barangay Bangkal in Patikul town. Police have identified the four victims as Joel Adanza, Felimon Cordero, Edmundo Ramos, and Jayson Baylosis.

Whilst Islamic State linked-ASG do not have a heavy presence in large mainland cities, such as Manila, the ISIS aligned terrorist group operate with some force on islands off the mainland Philippines, patrolling Filipino waters and kidnapping people for ransom. The areas of Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago and the Zamboanga Peninsula are all considered to be extremely dangerous and travellers are advised not to go there. ASG frequently behead their kidnap victims. On 5 July, local media sources reported that ASG had beheaded two kidnapped Vietnamese sailors on the island of Basilan. The victims were among the six kidnapped crew members of the MV Royal 16, which was hijacked by ASG militants in November 2016. The decapitated bodies of the crew were found in Barangay Tumahubong, Sumisip town. On the 13 July, local media further reported that ASG had shot dead one of the Vietnamese sailors who was kidnapped from the Giang Hai in February 2017.