| Rebels "have
the clout to sway polls" JOLO -- The extremist Abu Sayyaf group may influence next year's election
in Mindanao either by financing candidates or indulging in more terrorist acts in the
region during the campaign period, legislator Heherson Alvarez has warned.
""This is a wily
group. A band of criminals who can toy around with Mr (Roberto) Aventajado can also play
in the elections,'' Isabela Representative Alverez said, stressing that the government has
to contain the fundamentalist group. Mr Aventajado is the government's chief negotiator.
Two Mindanao lawmakers also
expressed fears that the Abu Sayyaf may use the money it generated from seizing foreigners
in supporting certain candidates, according to a report by The Philippine Star.
Sulu Representative Hussin Amin
and Zamboanga del Sur Representative George Hofer said that the Abu Sayyaf has the
financial capability to field its own congressional candidates.
""They might support
a candidate in my district and I might lose my seat,'' said Mr Amin, a known critic of the
Abu Sayyaf.
Mr Hofer, for his part,
estimated that the Abu Sayyaf may now have between 245 million pesos (S$9.56 million) and
400 million pesos in funds, the report said.
""Some congressmen
are now considering supporting the Abu Sayyaf to get funds for the elections,'' he said.
Back to Sipadan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
