ISIS actively recruiting fighters in Sulu

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 22): ISIS actively recruiting fighters in Sulu

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is actively recruiting additional warriors from Sulu province and those recruited are given instant cash for the processing of their travel documents.

Retired police General Sahiron Dulah Salim, the first ever PNP Muslim official to head the Salaam police based in Camp Crame, also said that the executioner of an American national could possibly be a “Tausug” native.

He added that every Tausug native recruited will be given P50,000 for the processing of their passports and visas prior to their departure for Iraq and Syria to join ISIS fighters in the troubled region.

Tausug warriors, he said, have the habit of beheading their enemies.

Reports said that Peter Kassig was shown in a video being beheaded by an Asian-looking fighter of ISIS.

“I think the suspect who carried out the beheading was a Tausug warrior because it is just normal for them to cut off the neck of their perceived enemies once they captured them,” said Salim.

But Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said the military is still verifying if the man who carried out the beheading is a Filipino. “So far, we still do not have any confirmation of the nationality of that person,” she said.

She admitted it was difficult to immediately confirm the nationality of the alleged IS recruit since most Asians share the same looks.

Quoting an intelligence network in Sulu, the Tausug retired general, who is a native of Parang town, Sulu, said those recruited for local deployment were given P25,000 instant cash to be handed over immediately to their families as “pabaon.”

“Of course, some of the Tausug will bite the P25,000 cash money,” said Salim.

The local recruits, Salim said, will be deployed to various parts of Mindanao where the Abu Sayyaf is operating.

Asked where the Abu Sayyaf is getting funding from, Salim said the recent P250-million ransom money they got for the release of two German nationals was real.

“Noong nakakuha sila (Abu Sayyaf) ng perang P250 million ay  agad silang namili ng malalakas na uri ng baril at caliber .45 pistols, isa lang ito na patunay na nagkaroon sila ng malaking pera sa ransom ng dalawang German,” pointed out Salim, a former intelligence and commanding officer in some parts of Mindanao.

Salim, who was once the Bataan PNP director and tagged as rebel hunter for neutralizing a number of Moro and NPA rebels during his stint, said former President Fidel V. Ramos’ statement that the ISIS was able to recruit around 100 Tausugs was true. He said the military and the PNP leaderships simply do not want to admit it since this will be bad for their image.

He said that the ISIS is getting more recruit from the towns of Jolo, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said that after a global index indicating a rise in terrorism in the country, the government has vowed to enhance efforts to combat security threats in close coordination with its foreign allies.

The improved security campaign seeks to ensure the safety and protection of the public, including foreign tourists, in the country, Valte said.

The Philippines recently posted the 9th highest level of terrorist activities in 2013 based on a report prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The index recorded 499 terrorism incidents in the country that killed 292 and injured 444.

http://www.mb.com.ph/isis-actively-recruiting-fighters-in-sulu/