Philippines: Two hostages rescued from Abu Sayyaf in Sulu province September 7

Event

Philippine soldiers rescued two Indonesian hostages following a firefight with the Abu Sayyaf group that left five militants dead in the town of Indanan, Sulu province, on Thursday, September 7. According to media reports, the hostages had escaped from their captors and were discovered by the soldiers while attempting to leave the area. The two sailors had been in captivity since November 19, 2016. Heightened security measures are expected in and around Indanan.

Context

Abu Sayyaf is known for kidnapping people for ransom in southwest Mindanao (especially in Zamboanga province) and in the Sulu Archipelago (Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan provinces). Sailors and foreigners are regularly abducted in the Sulu Sea. The Philippine military confirmed on February 27, 2017, that Abu Sayyaf had beheaded a German hostage after the deadline for the payment of his ransom had passed. The killing reportedly took place in Indanan on Sulu Archipelago. In late April 2016, Abu Sayyaf executed a Canadian hostage who was captured in September 2015 on Jolo Island and beheaded two Canadian hostages in mid-June 2016 after failing to receive a ransom for their release. Nearly 30 people are still being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf, including Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese, Canadian, and Dutch citizens.

Fighters from the group, along with other pro-Islamic State (IS) militants, continue to control areas of Marawi City on the island of Mindanao. On May 23, significant fighting erupted in Marawi, following a botched government raid on a hideout sheltering Isnilon Hapilon, a commander of the Abu Sayyaf militant group. Martial law went into effect on the island within hours of the outbreak of fighting, and is set to be in effect until December 31.

The Philippine government is currently battling various militant Islamist groups including IS-affiliated Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the Abu Sayyaf militant group, and the Maute group. Around 246,000 people have been displaced by the fighting. The conflict is part of a wider decades-old insurgency in marginalized Muslim-majority areas of the Philippines.

Advice

Individuals are advised to avoid the area around Indanan, to monitor the situation, and to obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.