Sayyaf fielding bets for SK, barangay polls

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – The terrorist Abu Sayyaf group is now making efforts to infiltrate mainstream society by fielding candidates for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 25, a security official revealed yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen, Basilan-based 1st Marine Brigade commander and acting chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said the plans of the Abu Sayyaf were uncovered following a general meeting of the militants somewhere in Basilan.

“The report was intercepted in one of the meetings of the Abu Sayyaf group who will be fielding their candidates in the barangay election,” Clemen said.

According to Clemen, the Abu Sayyaf fielding candidates is nothing new since many of their supporters are also relying financially on the terrorists. 

The military arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf militant who ran for councilor in Sumisip during the May 10 elections.

“I think this will happen again. They might want to have their people as officials in the village to support their operations,” Clemen said.

He said they will coordinate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to identify suspected Abu Sayyaf sympathizers and supporters running in the barangay elections and bring this up in the candidates forum to expose the plans of the Abu Sayyaf of fielding candidates.

“The villagers know who (are these) candidates being supported by the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.

Clemen said security will be intensified in areas in Basilan since there was information that the Abu Sayyaf are threatening villagers to force them to support their candidates.

“By hook or by crook they will use threats to ensure their candidate will win,” Clemen disclosed.