Duterte: ‘Bamboo triad’ gave ‘franchise’ to Abu Sayyaf

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the Taiwan-based United Bamboo, the international criminal group that allegedly supplied illegal drugs in the Philippines, has granted the Abu Sayyaf terror group a “franchise”.

In a speech delivered in Balangiga, Eastern Samar, the Chief Executive said that the Abu Sayyaf group was one of terror organizations granted a franchise by the international drug cartel.

Duterte’s latest revelation came after he said last Tuesday that the Philippines has become a “client state” of United Bamboo triad, which is involved in the illegal drug trade in the country.

“I’d like to tell you now, Bamboo triad took over. Now, it’s being run [by this international drug syndicate]. China government has nothing to do with it. The Chinese people have nothing to do with it. It’s the gangster of the Philippines and the China combined together and making the life of the Filipinos miserable,” the President said.

“They have franchises. They have a franchise given to Abu Sayyaf because they have arms and they still do their job [to carry out hostile activities]. They cook and distribute because they have arms,” he added.

The Abu Sayyaf group has been recognized the most notorious bandit organization in Southeast Asia for decades.

Abu Sayyaf fighters’ ideology is to bring destruction to the southern Philippines by conducting criminal activities, including kidnappings for ransom and offensives against state forces.

In April this year, the military discovered that Abu Sayyaf group was involved in illicit drugs trade following the arrest of 34 of its members during an antidrug operation in a remote village in Patikul, Sulu.

Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez Jr., Commander of Western Mindanao Command, had said that the Abu Sayyaf are being funded by local drug syndicates to help them carry out their illegal activities.

Prior to Duterte’s pronouncement regarding the Bamboo triad, he also released the so-called Lanao Del Sur drug matrix, which linked narco-politicians to terror activities in the south, specifically in Marawi City.

The rebellion erupted in Marawi City when the military was conducting an operation against Isnilon Hapilon, leader of Abu Sayyaf and alleged emir of Islamic State’s (IS) Southeast Asia group.

Hapilon was reportedly in cahoots with Maute terrorist group, whose plan was to establish a caliphate for IS fighters in Southeast Asia. SunStar Philippines