Governor promises development of Muslim region to conflict-affected residents of village where troops overran militant camp
The governor of an autonomous Muslim region in the Philippines’ troubled south has called on residents to reject a militant group that has pledged allegiance to Daesh and to unite in defending peace and development in the area.
Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) gave a speech Monday before thousands of conflict-affected residents in the island province of Basilan, where troops overran an Abu Sayyaf camp in Baguindan village of Tipo-Tipo town last month.
"I call on all my brothers and sisters in Islam not to hear them, they are the biggest traitor of Islam who kidnap-for-ransom, behead and bomb innocent people and their activities really wreaked havoc in our peaceful communities," he said.
Alongside heavily armed military personnel and pro-government militiamen, Hataman launched a monthly "People's Day in Basilan" during his visit to mark the restoration of government authority in the re-captured area.
Health and social welfare officials from ARMM joined employees of the provincial government in providing thousands of locals -- mostly evacuees -- with free services such as medical consultation and check-ups, while also distributing hygiene kits and food supplies.
"It's about time for this place [Baguindan] to receive various programs and projects from the government," Hataman said, vowing to sponsor development in conflict-affected areas.
"Baguindan is for Baguindan. Baguindan is for the people here, not for ISIS [Daesh] which is alien or foreign. We are here to protect the people," he stressed.
Hataman's visit to Baguindan came amid continuing military operations in Basilan and the neighboring island province of Sulu against the Abu Sayyaf, which is still holding captive at least 11 foreign hostages and several Filipinos.
Basilan, an impoverished island of about 400,000 people, has long been a stronghold of the group.
Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent province in the Philippines.
It is notorious for beheading victims after ransoms have failed to be paid for their release.
The Abu Sayyaf is among two militant groups in the south who have pledged allegiance to Daesh, prompting fears during the stalling of a peace process between the government and the country's biggest Moro group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, that it could make inroads in a region torn by decades of armed conflict.
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