Abu Sayyaf has allegedly plotted to kidnap boxing star Manny Pacquiao, according to Philippine president Benigno Aquino III whom the extremist group also plotted to kill. The said militants were also the one behind the recent beheading of a Canadian citizen in the country.
As reported by Boxing Junkie, the group allegedly hatched plans to kidnap Manny Pacquiao or one of his children as well as the president's sister, Kris Aquino, or one of her children as well. The plan is to use them for bargaining for the release of their cohorts in prison.
As reported by Inquirer, Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon and sub commander Furuji Indama, who are both in prison, are the ones behind the plan. President Benigno Aquino revealed that Hapilon planned to recruit inmates from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City to aid their cause and establish ties with the remnants of the Rajah Sulayman Movement.
According to President Aquino, the group also has plans of detonating bombs across metropolitan Manila in order for them to get funds from the Islamic State group. These plans, however, was uncovered by the Philippine army, decreasing their chances of executing it.
The group's extremist belief made it harder for the Philippine government to forge any forms of peace talks. A peace pact has already been formed by the government and a larger Muslim rebel group in the country. Aquino always believed in the power of dialogue, development, and positive engagement as against going to war. However, Aquino said the Abu Sayyaf group chose force as its only means of communication as per The Guardian.
While the Abu Sayyaf group surrounding the rest of the captives is deemed a risky situation, "it is also an opportunity because smashing these forces is within our grasp," Aquino said. Causalities are to be expected during the operation but the president is confident that his army troops are well equipped and adequately trained for the mission. The extremist group has posed as an Islamic freedom fighter but acted as criminals that focused only on making themselves rich by taking hostages and asking money in return.
The group was formed in the 1990's as a breakaway group from a larger Muslim rebel group. Since then, they began a series of large-scale kidnapping in the southern Philippines. The group has been weakened by years of government offensives but has endured due to its hostage-taking activities.
