Despite intensified military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf, the ISIL-linked terrorists struck anew, abducting a Filipino public school teacher in the southern island province of Sulu. Colonel Cirilito Sobejana Jr., Joint Task Force Sulu commander, confirmed on Saturday that the Abu Sayyaf bandits kidnapped a teacher of the Jolo National High School. He identified the teacher as Ibrahim Potong, who was driving his motorcycle home to Maimbung town when he was abducted Friday afternoon. "The bandits seized the teacher and fled towards an unknown direction," he said. "Pursuit operation is ongoing." The abduction of Potong has brought the number of hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf to 32 including 12 Vietnamese nationals, seven Indonesians, six Filipinos, five Malaysians and one Dutch. worldbulletin.net
Abu Sayyaf givin' Duterte fits... ISIS-Linked Militants Besiege Philippine City 24 May 2017 | Militants swept through a southern Philippine city, beheading a police chief, burning buildings and seizing a Catholic priest. See also: Duterte declares martial law in Philippines amid terror clashes May 23, 2017 -- President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines on Tuesday declared a partial state of martial law in the Pacific island nation after two soldiers and a police officer were killed in clashes with terror insurgents. Related: Philippines deploys helicopters in battle to retake city from Islamist rebels Thu May 25, 2017 | Troops backed by attack helicopters battled dozens of militants linked to the Islamic State group holed up in a besieged city in the southern Philippines on Thursday after attempts to secure volatile areas met heavy resistance.
Philippines' Duterte jokes about rape... Philippines' Duterte jokes about rape amid concern over martial law abuses Sat May 27, 2017 | Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has sought to reassure soldiers who might be accused of committing abuses under martial law and jokingly said that if any of them were to rape three women, he would personally claim responsibility for it.
Duterte seein' slow progress in fight against Abu-Sayyaf... Philippines says Islamists keep up week-long fight with prisoners, looted guns Wed May 31, 2017 | A week-long assault by Islamist rebels in a southern Philippine city is being fuelled with stolen weapons and ammunition and fighters broken out of jails, the military said on Wednesday, as troops battled militants resisting ground and air attacks. See also: As bloody battle with terrorists rages on in southern Philippines, militants dump bodies of civilians on the streets Tuesday 30th May, 2017 - A raging battle is ongoing in the southern Philippines city of Marawi, where government forces continue to engage in fights with ISIS militants, who are trying to seize control of the area has entered its sixth day. Related: Philippines vows to save hostages as fight corners militants May 3,`17 - Philippine authorities have reached out to parties who may be able to talk with Muslim militants in a bid to secure the freedom of hostages in a southern city where a week of fighting has killed 129 people, officials said Wednesday.
The battle for Marawi yesterday enters its 36th day... Philippines reports first beheadings Thu, Jun 29, 2017 - FEARS CONFIRMED: The Philippine army yesterday said that it had found five bodies of civilians that had been decapitated among 17 bodies of civilian dead See also: More civilians found dead in Philippines as fighting drags on in Marawi June 28, 2017 -- The mutilated bodies of more than a dozen civilians were found on a street in the Philippines on Wednesday, and military officials believe they were killed by the regional Maute terrorist group.