THE terrorist Daesh, or the so-called Islamic State, released for the first time a propaganda video for Islamists in Southeast Asia and declared a “pivot to Asia” with Abu Sayyaf extremist Isnilon Hapilon as one of their leaders.
The video showed three men, speaking in Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia and Filipino, beheading three people whom Daesh believed to be spies.
The three men in the video also addressed IS supporters in their home countries and warned that whoever stands in the way of their holy war in what they called Khatibah Nusantara, which is presumed to be the Daesh’s so-called province in Southeast Asia.
“If you cannot go to [Syria], join the mujahideen in the Philippines,” said a man identified as Malaysian militant Mohamad Rafi Udin.
Udin called upon IS supporters to kill non-believers and look for Abdullah al-Filipini, whom security forces later identified as Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.
“Kill them wherever you meet them. If you have a car, hit them. Use your weapons and knives to stab them in the chest,” Udin said.
One of the men, who had his words subtitled in Filipino, said: “We are slaughtering these [apostates] and tomorrow, our brothers in your land will slaughter you. We will use the language of swords and bullets. We will continue to fight and wage war against you, terrorize you and put fear in your hearts.”
Another man in the same video spoke in Filipino and urged his “brothers” not to hesitate in their fight, trying to downplay the “tactics” of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
“Take care and be strong, do not be swayed by the deceptive tactics of the newly elected [President Rodrigo] Duterte. May he be cursed by Allah,” he said.
Only on Friday, Duterte said the kidnappings and beheadings perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf must stop and he would soon confront the extremist group.
“I don’t want to pick up a fight with anybody, but there will be a time. I have to confront Abu Sayyaf. It’s not yet forthcoming… Their kidnapping must stop. It has given us a very bad image,” Duterte said.
Duterte also warned his fellow Mindanaoans not to join the bandit group, saying he would unleash a war on them.
“Never be a member of that Abu Sayyaf because there will be a reckoning one of these days,” he said.
Incoming National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said meanwhile that he cannot comment yet about the IS threats directed to Duterte, saying that he has yet to assume the post.