Abu Sayyaf Plans to Kidnap Kris, Pacquiao.
Abu Sayyaf attempt. Vowing to leave “no stone unturned” in the government’s intensive operations against the terrorist group, President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday revealed that the Abu Sayyap had planned to kidnap sister, Kris Aquino and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
President Aquino said in a statement sent to media that the Abu Sayyaf plotted the attempts as to catch the attention of the international terrorist group Islamic State or ISIS.
The president was quoted as saying that the Abu Sayyaf effort to gain the favor of the ISI as “one of the ASG leaders, Isnilon Hapilon, through his cohorts in prison, has tried to convert other prisoners in New Bilibid Prison to their cause and establish ties with remnants of the Rajah Sulayman Movement purportedly in an attempt to embark on a bombing campaign in Metro Manila.”
Aquino said that that the plan of kidnapping Pacquiao or one of his children as well as the presidential sister will be used as bargain for the release of their cohorts.
He, however, assured the public that they may go about their daily lives without fear or unease as the government works double time to seriously erode any ability of the ASG to continue the function.
“This is the reason we are conducting continuing operations in Basilan versus Isnilon Hapilon and his sub-leader Furuji Indama.” he said.
Earlier, a former mining executive John Ridsdel was beheaded after the Canadian along with three other people were captured in September 2015 while on a vacation on Samal Island in Davao del Norte.
The Abu Sayyaf appealed to the government and demanded P300-million ransom for the release of Ridsdel.
The Canadian hostage’s head was later found in a yellow sack dumped near the government hall in Jolo, Sulu.
The president had already sent a letter to the family of the Canadian to express his condolences saying that the murder was meant to terrorize the whole population.
Aquino revealed that the captives are under the control of the ASG leader in Sulu but said that he has fill trust and confident to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to carry out the operations against the Abu Sayyaf and rescue the remaining hostages.