EDITORIAL - The Abu Sayyaf strikes again

When Abu Sayyaf guerrillas were driven out of Basilan by the joint war exercises between Philippine and US troops, everyone expected the terrorists to regroup and move their base elsewhere. Most people, including military officials, believed it was only a matter of time before the Abu Sayyaf would stage a major operation again.

And so the terrorists did Tuesday, grabbing eight residents of Sulu who were selling Avon cosmetics door to door. Two of the captives were later freed. The guerrillas belonged to the Sulu-based faction of the Abu Sayyaf, which was responsible for the abduction of foreigners from the Malaysian island resort of Sipadan two years ago. The group, identified with Ghalib "Commander Robot" Andang, is more notorious for banditry rather than genuine Islamic fundamentalist zeal; money seems to be the main driving force of this faction. Andang is better known for collecting ransom than for mutilating and decapitating kidnap victims.

But there have been numerous reports that Khadaffy Janjalani, leader of the original Islamist group based in Basilan, has joined forces with Andang, and this initial attack could be just the start of a reign of terror in Sulu. Unless government troops stop the guerrillas.

Some people are wondering if the latest victims were deliberately targeted because they were selling products of an American company. US troops will be back in October for the next installment of the Balikatan military exercises. Even before the war games ended in Basilan, there was already talk that the next venue would be the island of Sulu.

There is still no final word on the venue, but the Armed Forces of the Philippines should not wait for outside help to deal with this latest kidnapping. It is bad enough that Andang remains at large, enjoying an estimated $20 million in ransom payments, long after the Sipadan kidnapping, and that Janjalani may have relocated to Sulu. With this latest attack, the AFP should pursue the Abu Sayyaf, move resolutely and not let this problem get out of hand.