However, under Marcos, it appears that there is greater cooperation in the spheres of economic development and security now that the Abu Sayyaf terror group has been decimated.

However, the investigation into the church bombing in Sulu, a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group, is "far from over," he added.

The Filipino terrorists belonged to the small but violent Abu Sayyaf group.

Relentless military offensives have weakened smaller armed groups like the notoriously violent Abu Sayyaf group over the years, considerably reducing kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks.

Police launched a major assault with tear-gas canisters and assault rifles after the terrorists refused to surrender, killing 22 inmates, including top Abu Sayyaf commanders.

On Thursday night, three Indonesian men were rescued by police who also captured one of their Abu Sayyaf captors along the shores of South Ubian town in Tawi Tawi.

More than 1,000 people, mostly militants and long-elusive Abu Sayyaf commanders, were killed in months of intense air and ground assaults.

Abu Sayyaf wants a separate Islamic state in the Philippines—the group is on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations.

Hassan also allegedly provided bomb-making training to terrorists belonging to the Abu Sayyaf group, according to a former Abu Sayyaf terrorist who has been captured by government forces.

During his time on the run, he allegedly joined Abu Sayyaf in the Phillipines, also an Islamic extremist group.

Yumol who had no relatives at the graduation, was also a native of Lamitan city in Basilan province, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf, a pro-ISIS terrorist group known for its banditry and kidnapping.

Duterte expanded the military presence in Sulu in late 2018, deploying hundreds of additional troops, aircraft and combat equipment after vowing to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf.

(The Avenue/Variance Films) Speaking of which, when the team finally arrives at the location where the asset is thought to be imprisoned, they encounter the Abu Sayyaf, a ruthlessly evil band of Islamic terrorist-pirates that the United States, in this

The military has been launching offensives against small armed groups allied with the extremists who laid siege on Marawi, including the Abu Sayyaf, which has been blacklisted by the United States and the Philippines for past bombings, ransom kidnappings

The Philippine president said that both Abu Sayyaf and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic while local law enforcement agencies are more focused on tackling the pandemic.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but the military blamed an Abu Sayyaf militant commander, Mundi Sawadjaan, who has been linked to suicide bombings in recent years in Sulu.

They said Abu Talha had been trained in bomb-making by ISIS and had instructed the Islamic extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in setting up suicide attacks. He had also served as "finance conduit and liaison" between foreign and local jihadists.

The rebels belong to an Abu Sayyaf faction led by commander Hajan Sawadjaan and aligned with ISIS.

The rebels belong to an Abu Sayyaf faction led by commander Hajan Sawadjaan and aligned with ISIS.

Isnilon Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf faction leader anointed as ISIS's Southeast Asian "emir" and wanted by the United States, was killed during that battle. By Martin Petty and Enrico Dela Cruz

A series of bombings also took place in Jolo, Philippines, where suicide bombers of radical Islamic militant group, Abu Sayyaf, attacked military camps and churches, leaving dozens dead and wounded.

"Abu Sayyaf’s wife, Umm Sayyaf, who was captured in the operation, has also provided information to investigators, one senior American official said," the newspaper reported.

Abu Sayyaf extremists are still holding at least five hostages—a Dutch national, two Malaysians, an Indonesian and a Filipino—in their jungle bases mostly near Sulu's Patikul town, not far from Jolo.

The military believes it was the work of the Islamic extremist group Abu Sayyaf, which embedded itself in the Philippines and pledged allegiance to ISIS.

"We will continue to chase the Abu Sayyaf and finish them off," she added. The presence of pro-ISIS terrorists is among the top internal security threats for the Philippines.

Authorities said earlier they had detained Philippine Abu Sayyaf leader Hajar Abdul Mubin, 25, also known as Abu Asrie, in the Aug. 30 raid.

Abu Sayyaf claimed in November that its gunmen had kidnapped Kantner and killed a woman sailing with him off neighboring Malaysia's Sabah state.

The military classifies the BIFF, which it said has about 300 members, as a terrorist organization, along with the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups.

On Sunday, he was handed over to Philippine authorities, along with three Indonesian fishermen freed separately by the Abu Sayyaf.

Soldiers distribute pictures of a member of extremist group Abu Sayyaf Isnilon Hapilon, who has a U.S. government bounty of $5 million for his capture, in Butig, Lanao del Sur in southern Philippines Feb. 1. (REUTERS/Marconi B.