Abu Sayyaf Reduced to "Plain Bandits"

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(Manila, Philippines) Due to persistent pressure from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) has been reduced to "plain bandits" experiencing a leadership vacuum.

According to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Alexander B. Yano:

"We still look at them (ASG) as a loose organization with some splinter groups. In fact, some of them may be conducting their own operations and now has degenerated into a money-making group devoid of any ideology or cause," Yano said.

In a forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), Yano said that the military has yet to monitor a "single and unifying leader" that the Abu Sayyaf acknowledged since the death of ASG chief Khadaffy Janjalani and second in command Abu Sulaiman two years ago.

Reportedly, without leadership, Abu Sayyaf has seen its funding sources dry up and now resorts to various moneymaking endeavors just like petty criminals.

Also: Jawa Report