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Abu Sayyaf Members Reduced to 75: Spokesman
Sustained military action has reduced drastically the strength of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group to only 75 to 200 hardcore members, the Philippine military said November 15.
Armed Forces spokesman Generoso Senga told reporters that at the height of the Abu Sayyaf hostage crisis in Sulu, the group had an estimated hardcore members of about 300 to 400. Their followers numbered as much as 3,000 to 4,000.
But since the military launched n all-out offensive on September 16, a total of 179 Abu Sayyaf members were killed, 173 others were captured and another 232 surrendered.
More than 3,000 were believed to have deserted after they saw the might and firepower of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Senga said.
He added 75 remaining hardcore are only estimates but at the most the number would not be more than 200.
The influx of new recruits were monitored after the Abu Sayyaf reportedly got ransom money of about 245 million pesos (US$4.9 million) after they kidnapped 21 mostly foreign tourists in the Malaysian resort of Sipadan on April 23.
The new recruits were lured of the high pay offered by the Abu Sayyaf, he said.
All except two of the hostages, American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino diver instructor Rolando Ullah, have been rescued or released.
Senga was optimistic the military would be able to accomplish its mission against the Abu Sayyaf before the end of the year.
The terrorist group is hiding in caves and forested areas in Talipao and Patikul in the southern island o Sulu. The Philippine Navy has established a blockade around Sulu to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from escaping.
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