Terrorism and

Radicalization of Islam
in the Philippines and
the Abu Sayaf Group

Pee Wee H. Abanco

MED Social Studies
Terrorism

- The use of intentional violence, generally against

civilians, for political purposes.
Radicalism

- Is the belief that society needs to be changed, and that

these changes are only possible through revolutionary
means.
The radicalization of Muslims in South East Asia is the
response to a whole series of Western influences
stretching from colonization in the past to globalization
today.
But who are the radicals?

Extremist groups in the southeast Asian region are not

necessarily terrorists. Their representatives are
emotionally, culturally and intellectually attached to
the Arab countries which they consider the source of
inspiration for all Muslims.

The west, on the other hand, is regarded as the

source of everything that is evil, un-Islamic, and
hostile to Islam.
In the Philippines the radical temper of many Muslims
has by now led to insurgencies and terrorist act. This kind
of rebellion , which has its roots in past anti-Spanish and
anti-American movements.

The Muslims in the Philippines seek to establish an

independent Islamic Province in Mindanao to be named
Bangsamoro. The term Bangsamoro is a combination of
an Old Malay word meaning nation or state with the
Spanish word Moro which means Muslim.
Moro Islamic Liberation Front
• Is a group based on Mindanao, Philippines seeking
an autonomous region of the Moro People from the
central government.

• They are Moro and Lumad group formed in 1969

following the Jabidah Massacre.
Moro National Liberation Front
• Is a political organization in the Philippines that was
founded in 1972.

• its started as a separatist group who’s ideology is

“Egalitarianism” and is not a religious organization
like its Islamic splinter group the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front.

• Its founder is Nur Misuari.

Abu Sayyaf
• Officially known by ISIL as the Islamic State- East
Asia Province, is a Jihadist and pirate group that
follows Wahhabi doctrine in Sunni Islam.

• Based in and around Jolo and Basilan islands in the

southwestern part of the Philippines.

• The group is considered violent and was responsible

for the Philippines “Worst terrorist attack” the
bombing of Superferry in 2004 which killed 116
people.

• The name of the group is derived from the word Abu

(Father of) and Sayyaf (Swordsmith).
Brief History

- In the early 1970’s, the MNLF was the main Muslim

rebel group fighting in Basilan and Mindanao.
Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani, had been a teacher
from Basilan, who studied Islamic Theology and
Arabic in Libya, Syria and Saudi Arabia in the 1980’s.

- Janjalani gathered the radical members of the old

MNLF who wanted to resume armed struggle and in
1991 established the Abu Sayyaf.

- By 1995, Abu Sayyaf was active in large-scale

bombings and attacks.
Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani
Khadaffy Janjalani
• On December 18, 1988 Abdurajik was killed in a gun
battle with the PNP on Basilan Island. His death
marked a turning point in Abu Sayyaf operations.
The group shifted to kidnappings, murders and
robberies, under the young brother Khadaffy.

• Jolo and Sulu experienced some of the fiercest

fights between government troops and Abu Sayyaf
operations. Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest but
strongest of the Philippine Islamist Separatist group.
Super Ferry Bombing
• Superferry 14 was a large ferry destroyed by a bomb
on February 27, 2004 killing 116 people in the
Philippines worst terrorist attack and the world’s
deadliest terrorist attack at sea.
Kidnapping of Martin and Gracia
Burnham
• On may 27, 2001, an Abu Sayyaf raid kidnapped
about 20 people from Dos Palmas resort Palawan.
The hostages and hostage-takers then returned to
Abu Sayyaf territories in Mindanao. According to
Bowden , the leader of the raid was Abu Sabaya.

• The Abu Sayyaf conducted numerous raids, they took

about 15 people captive there and later used bolo
knives to hack the heads off two men. The number of
hostages waxed and wanes as some were ransomed
and released, new ones were taken and killed.
By October 2001 the Burnhams were among a group of
14 still being held by the guerrillas, according to three
Filipino hostages who escaped from the group in mid-
October. Bertram Benasing, who escaped with his 14-
year-old brother Zardi and Michael Abellion, said they
had walked overnight after being sent to fetch water and
bananas on the island of Basilan.[11] A video taken in
November 2001 apparently showed the Burnhams in
poor health, with Martin saying "each night I am chained
to a tree by my left wrist."
The kidnappers demanded $1,000,000 for the release of
the Americans. A ransom of $330,000 was paid, yet the
kidnappers refused to release them. On June 7, 2002,
after over a year in captivity, Martin Burnham and a
Filipino nurse, Ediborah Yap, died in an operation to free
them, while Burnham's wife Gracia was wounded.[1]
Martin was killed by three gunshots in the chest and
Gracia was wounded in her right leg.
Conclusion:

the military defeat of Abu Sayyaf is central to addressing

the Islamist threat in Philippines. The AFP and PNP must
continue their unyielding assault against the Abu Sayyaf
splinter groups. However, the excessive use of force
would only be detrimental to the social fabric of
Mindanao. The Philippines must focus on appropriate
training and equipping for shallow water operations to
combat the IS threat along the Sulu Sea. The AFP and
PNP can also consider coordinating their land-sea
operations to corner these militants more effectively.