ZAMBOANGA CITY, 12 June 2007 — Suspicions and fears of betrayal among themselves have fragmented members of the Al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines, the military said yesterday.
With huge bounties on top of their heads, leaders of the country’s most notorious terrorist group are now scared that their own followers may betray them in exchange for the huge rewards, said the deputy chief of the Western Mindanao Command, Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
“They are having a tough time now. The Abu Sayyaf remains fragmented because of fear by their leaders that they would be betrayed by their own people,” he said.
Last week, the US government handed $10 million to four men who provided information on the whereabouts of two top Abu Sayyaf leaders.
Military officials said information provided by two former Abu Sayyaf members led to the discovery of the body of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani, who was killed earlier in a clash with troops.
A tip from two other men also led soldiers to kill Janjalani’s deputy, Jainal Antel Sali, during a raid on his hideout.
The general said the Abu Sayyaf leadership is now divided between the Jolo commanders under Radulan Sahiron and those from nearby Basilan Island led by Isnilon Hapilon. “Both sides are now suspicious of each other. With the huge reward monies, anything can happen,” he said.
Many former Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to authorities have provided vital information about the terror group and its leaders that led to the capture and killing of many militants in Jolo, officials said..
The United States listed the Abu Sayyaf as a foreign terrorist organization and offered as much as ten million dollars for the capture of its known leaders.
The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the spate of bombings and kidnappings of foreigners in the Philippines.
