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Philippines Says Local Terrorist Group Not Linked to ISIS Philippines Says Local Terrorist Group Is Not Linked to ISIS
(about 4 hours later)
MANILA — The Philippine military said Thursday that there were no ties between domestic extremist organizations and the Islamic State, despite a threat by local rebels to kill two German captives if Germany continues to support the United States-led military campaign against the group, also known as ISIS. MANILA — The Philippine military said on Thursday that there were no ties between domestic extremist organizations and the Islamic State, despite a threat by local rebels to kill two German captives if Germany continues to support the United States-led military campaign against the group, also known as ISIS.
“There are no links with ISIS in the Philippines, based on our monitoring,” said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, a spokesman for the Philippine military. “There are ISIS sympathizers, but they are just riding the bandwagon, trying to connect themselves to ISIS. Based on our information, ISIS is not operating here.”“There are no links with ISIS in the Philippines, based on our monitoring,” said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, a spokesman for the Philippine military. “There are ISIS sympathizers, but they are just riding the bandwagon, trying to connect themselves to ISIS. Based on our information, ISIS is not operating here.”
The small but violent Philippine Islamist rebel group Abu Sayyaf said in an online statement Tuesday that it was holding two German captives who were abducted in April, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist groups’ communications. The statement demanded a ransom of about $5.6 million and that Germany stop supporting the campaign against the Islamic State, SITE said. The small but violent Philippine Islamist rebel group Abu Sayyaf said in an online statement on Tuesday that it was holding two German captives who were abducted in April, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist groups’ communications. The statement demanded a ransom of about $5.6 million and that Germany stop supporting the campaign against the Islamic State, SITE said.
A spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that her office was working to try to free the hostages, adding that “threats are not an appropriate way to try to influence German policy in Syria or Iraq.” A spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that her office was working to try to free the hostages, adding that “threats are not an appropriate way to try to influence German policy in Syria or Iraq.”
According to the Philippine military and the police, Abu Sayyaf in recent years has evolved into a for-profit criminal organization rather than an ideologically driven Islamist group. The organization, which has undertaken high-profile kidnappings and beheadings for more than a decade, is believed to consist of fewer than 100 fighters, divided into smaller groups that sometimes fight among themselves.According to the Philippine military and the police, Abu Sayyaf in recent years has evolved into a for-profit criminal organization rather than an ideologically driven Islamist group. The organization, which has undertaken high-profile kidnappings and beheadings for more than a decade, is believed to consist of fewer than 100 fighters, divided into smaller groups that sometimes fight among themselves.
In July, one of the group’s senior leaders swore an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State’s leader in an online video, but it was not clear whether that faction was the one holding the Germans. Several other hostages, some Filipino and some foreigners, are also believed to be held by extremist groups in the southern Philippines.In July, one of the group’s senior leaders swore an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State’s leader in an online video, but it was not clear whether that faction was the one holding the Germans. Several other hostages, some Filipino and some foreigners, are also believed to be held by extremist groups in the southern Philippines.
The Philippine government signed a peace deal in March with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines. Hard-line groups, including Abu Sayyaf, opposed the deal and were not included in the talks.The Philippine government signed a peace deal in March with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines. Hard-line groups, including Abu Sayyaf, opposed the deal and were not included in the talks.
Since 1992, about 500 American commandos have been operating in the southern Philippines, assisting the Philippine military in eliminating extremists with links to international terrorist groups. The United States government announced in June that the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines would be disbanded.Since 1992, about 500 American commandos have been operating in the southern Philippines, assisting the Philippine military in eliminating extremists with links to international terrorist groups. The United States government announced in June that the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines would be disbanded.