ASG extortion activities worsen in Basilan

From the Manila Bulletin (Feb 4): ASG extortion activities worsen in Basilan

The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) has expressed fears about the possible delay in the implementation and completion of vital infrastructure projects scheduled this year in Basilan province due to the persistent threat posed by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on its officials and workers.

DPWH-ARMM Basilan District Engineer Soler I Undug yesterday said renegade ASG leaders are threatening them with harm should they continue to refuse to extend them protection money.

Undug said that if these series of threats will continue, the implementation and completion of vital government projects in the province might be delayed.

According to Undug the protection money that these ASG was asking for ranged from P200,000 or more, in areas where government projects were being implemented.

“We, in the government service, are not authorized to deal with them, more so, to give protection money to rebels like the Abu Sayyaf Group where government project we are implementing,” Undug said.

“We don’t deny that our fear is there, especially during our travel to the construction site as we might be ambushed by these ASG rebels anytime, while we are heading to the construction site in the province aboard government service trucks and vehicles,” he said.

According to reports, ASG leaders Jaid Mawalil and Nur Hassan were among those who have been trying to extort money from the DPWH officials in the province.

Mawalil is operating in the towns of Tuburan, Moh Ajul, Akbar while Hassan is operating in the towns of Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan and Lamitan City area, all in the province of Basilan.

As this developed, local residents have asked police and military authorities to conduct operations against the group in their suspected lairs in the province.

They urged the Joint Task Force Basilan, headed by Col Juvimax Uy, to conduct surgical operations in known ASG lairs in the province in order to free the people from possible ASG harassment.

As martial law implementor in the province, they said Uy should show that the military is on top of the situation and can illuminate them (ASG) anytime without fear, they said.

A government official in the province said, they couldn’t feel the implementation of martial law in the province as they can still see people moving around in public with their firearms in their waists.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/04/asg-extortion-activities-worsen-in-basilan/