AFP campaign vs. Abu Sayyaf paying off

The Philippine military says its efforts against militant groups with ties to major terrorist networks are paying off, thanks to a decade of U.S.

Armed Forced of the Philippines spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos says, in addition to providing technical support, the United States had a major role in intelligence gathering against the group.


Efforts in building capacity of the Philippines should be recognized because were it not for continuing capacity-building training provided by the United States, Philippine law enforcement authorities would not have enhanced their capacity also to address terrorist threats.

Many people say support from the United States has helped diminish the Abu Sayyaf's numbers from about 1,000 at its peak to less than 400.

The Abu Sayyaf gained notoriety in the 1990's, when it broke away from a larger Muslim separatist group in the Southern Philippines. They have carried out kidnappings of foreign nationals, including the 2001 hostage-taking of 20 people at a Philippine resort in which they beheaded one American and lost another American to gunfire in a rescue operation.