www.rsis.edu.sg 12 January 25 – 31 – August18 January 2014 2015 Country Weekly Report of International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research PHILIPPINES Terrorism Philippines security forces were on high alert for terrorist incidents as the Catholic pope visited the country from 15 – 19 January 2015, which passed without incident as the pope toured Manila. However, incidents continued in the south of the country. On 13 January 2015, a power transmission tower was bombed in Barangay Gilakit, Pikit in Maguindanao, cutting power to areas from Bukidnon to Simuay in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. Although denied by spokesman Abu Misry Mama, the authorities have accused the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) of the attack, saying the blast bore the group’s signature.1 Abu Sayyaf Group operatives remained active in Basilan province, bombing construction equipment of the Basilan provincial engineering office on the night of 13 January 2015, and abducting three of the office’s workers two days later. Military forces in the region pursued the kidnappers, who released their victims after an hour-long chase. The ASG in the region had earlier demanded a 900 million peso (20.2 million USD) extortion from the office’s head.2 Counter-Terrorism In an operation conducted on 16 January 2015, Philippines security forces arrested suspected kidnapper Ayub Enriquez in the village of Tenan in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Ipil town. Enriquez, of the Barahama Ali kidnap gang, has been implicated in the kidnappings of Australian adventurer Warren Rodwell in December 2011 in Ipil town and Chinese trader Li Pei Zhei in September 2014 in Kabasalan town, also in Zamboanga Sibugay.3 Bandit gangs in the Philippines are known to join forces to conduct operations, with the share of profits being split after negotiations are concluded. 1 “BIFF blamed for bombing of NGCP steel tower in Mindanao”, Inquirer, 14 January 2015, newsinfo.inquirer.net/664631/biff-blamed-for-bombing-of-ngcp-steel-tower-in-mindanao 2 “Military rescue workers an hour after Abu Sayyaf abduction”, Zamboanga Today Online, 16 January 2015, http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/top-stories/19717-military-rescue-workers-an-hour-after-abu-sayyaf- abduction.html 3 “Warren Rodwell kidnapper arrested in Zamboanga province”, Mindanao Examiner, 17 January 2015, http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20150116224746 Nanyang Technological University Block S4, Level B4, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798 Tel: +65 6790 6982 | Fax: +65 6794 0617 | www.rsis.edu.sg .