A screenshot from News5 Everywhere video shows Abu Sayyaf members brandishing high-powered weapons.
Partaking of the ransom from kidnapping and a monthly salary are the come-ons the Muslim extremist Abu Sayyaf Group is offering in its more aggressive campaign to recruit new members, according to former mayor Joel Maturan of Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan province.
The provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi comprise the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), one of the poorest regions in the Philippines.
Aside from receiving a part of the huge ransoms from kidnappings, ASG recruits are reportedly being offered a monthly salary of P15,000, Maturan said.
Compared with the per capita income of P14,000 in Basilan, it is not surprising for the youth – some as young as 14 years old – to be attracted by the offer of the bandit group.
The ASG members are also armed with brand-new and high-powered automatic weapons to fight paramilitary forces and government troops, Maturan added.
Lieutenant Rowena Muyela, Westmincom spokesperson, said the military is validating and checking these reports on the ground.
While it is easy for the Abu Sayyaf to recruit new members, the government is finding it hard to augment its civilian paramilitary forces, or the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU).
To counter the ASG campaign, Muyela said the military is seeking the help of Muslim leaders such as imams.
[Video report]
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/99563/video--partaking-of-ransom-monthly-salary-attracting-abu-sayyaf-recruits-basilan-ex-mayor
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.