[Gulf Today] Five foreign extremists, led by a former member of the Malaysian Army Special Forces, were confirmed to have joined the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao, according to a top official. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said that another Malaysian national was spotted with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. He said the Malaysian soldier went AWOL before joining Abu Sayyaf militants on the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu where they operated with impunity.
Cabunoc disclosed that they were still checking reports that the foreign extremists were part of a group claiming to be supporters of Daesh that aimed to establish an caliphate in the Middle East particularly in Iraq and Syria. He said, "We have monitored the presence of the foreign fighters in Basilan since last year but we could not ascertain their affiliation with Daesh as they claimed."
He said their claim of ties with Daesh could just be part of a scheme by the Abu Sayyaf and their foreign supporters to solicit funds.
Cabunoc also reported that a suspected Abu Sayyaf militant was killed in a clash in a remote village in the town of Indanan, Sulu on Thursday. Cabunoc said a soldier was injured in the clash amid reports that the militants were seen carrying away the bodies of at least five of their dead comrades as they fled