THE Armed Forces of the Philippines announced this week that since a military offensive began in July, 156 Abu Sayyaf fighters were killed, while 157 were wounded as a result of the “search and destroy” military policy campaign of the Rodrigo Duterte government.
The offensive commenced after a proposed peace dialogue between Abu Sayyaf leaders and the Duterte camp failed to take place.
Since he assumed the presidency, Duterte has frequented Sulu and Basilan, the cradle of Abu Sayyaf, to sent a diplomatic message to the group to release Canadian and Norwegian hostages.
But, Abu Sayyaf beheaded two Canadian captives, defying Duterte’s call.
The ongoing fierce battle has taken the lives of 29 foot soldiers, most of whom were victims of ambush attacks by Abu Sayyaf.
Before the military offensive, Duterte had patiently appealed to Abu Sayyaf, saying the war in Basilan and Sulu was a futile exercise, as he continued to call on the militants to stop the war for the sake of the provinces’ children.
But, his message fell on deaf ears, and as a result of the dialogue deadlock, he sent 10,000 highly trained scout rangers and battle-tested marine soldiers to wipe out Abu Sayyaf.
Moreover, Abu Sayyaf remains an economic disturbance at the Philippine-Malaysian border because even at the height of the Philippine military offensive against the group, some of its members managed to abduct 70-year-old German sailor Jurgen Kantner at the border last month.
His female companion, Sabine Merz, was reportedly shot by the abductors, and was found naked on board a German yacht, reportedly owned by Kantner.
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by Abu Sayyaf, it still managed to hold 23 hostages: 18 of them foreigners, including a Japanese as well as Europeans, and five Filipinos.
Many residents in southern Philippines are surprised at how Abu Sayyaf has been able to intensify its kidnapping activities despite facing heavy military pressure.
The militants have been using the Philippine-Malaysian border to prey on prospective kidnap victims because the vastness of the sea makes it difficult for security authorities to conduct patrols.
Asia Times reported that the group has raked in at least US$10 million (RM44.7 million) through kidnap-for-ransom activities since 2012, and has reportedly used some of the money to bribe village officials, residents and politicians to mislead military soldiers chasing down its members.
Military spokesman Major Filemon Tan said it was difficult to identify Abu Sayyaf members, and his men were having a hard time gathering intelligence.
Money may also be a factor in the group’s continuing aggression in piracy activities at the Philippine-Malaysian border, despite the military offensive.
Given the difficulty, such an offensive may not stop Abu Sayyaf from engaging in piracy and kidnapping activities at the border.
Analysts believe that to put an end to Abu Sayyaf, a holistic approach is needed, and a military offensive might not be the sole solution to the problem.
Asian Sociology Professor Dr Adrian Semorlan told the New Straits Times that as the military offensive continued, a developmental approach should also take place, like providing members of the community with quality education and economic opportunities, because as long as Basilan and Sulu remain impoverished, they will breed terrorism.
These two provinces remain among the 10 poorest in the Philippines.
“Poverty, and the absence of the government’s social services and quality education in impoverished areas are the root causes of extremism,” said Semorlan.
Realising that a holistic approach is needed to address terrorism, the Duterte government is testing an initiative to address poverty in Sulu to prevent more terrorist groups from emerging.
He has named a pilot initiative, called Negosyo para sa kapayapaan sa Sulu (Business for peace in Sulu).
The presidential proposal gathered the Philippines’ top billionaires to develop Sulu in terms of air transport and telecommunications, a 50-megawatt coal power plant, a water plant and medical facilities.
The billionaires include Ramon Ang, Manny Pangilinan and Michael Tan.
Duterte hosted a launching ceremony to start the programme early next year. Sulu Governor Abdulsakur Tan II and town mayors witnessed the ceremony.
The president said the government was determined to address security issues in Mindanao, to make it conducive for investments. He said his administration was continuously talking to armed rebels, while running after terrorist groups, to promote peace on the island.
More than 30 per cent of the people in Sulu and Basilan live below the poverty line.
Duterte also announced that the Philippines would like to collaborate with Malaysia and Indonesia to form a more intensive security plan at the border, but he did not elaborate.
While Abu Sayyaf remains a security threat at the Philippine-Malaysian border, the Philippines is no longer relying on its military offensive, but is also exploring the use of developmental efforts to stop terrorism.
Soon, it will collaborate with its two neighbouring countries to prevent piracy and kidnapping activities at the border.
Professor Noel Tarrazona, is a freelance international journalist and geopolitics analyst in the Philippines.