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Isnilon Hapilon

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Isnilon Totoni Hapilon(March 10, 1968 – October 16, 2017), also known by thenom de guerreAbu Abdullah al-Filipini,[note 1]was a FilipinoIslamistmilitant affiliated withISIS.[2][3]He was formerly leader ofAbu Sayyaf Group,before its battalions pledged their allegiance toAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi.[4]An April 2016 issue of ISIL's weekly newsletterAl Nabasaid that Hapilon had been appointed as "emir of all Islamic State forces in the Philippines".[5]

Isnilon Hapilon
Image of Isnilon Hapilon used in a US government poster from 2006
Birth nameIsnilon Totoni Hapilon
Born(1968-03-10)March 10, 1968[1]
Maluso, Basilan,Philippines[1]
DiedOctober 16, 2017 (aged 49)
Marawi,Lanao del Sur,Philippines
AllegianceMoro National Liberation Front
(1985–1994)
Abu Sayyaf
(1994–2017)
Al-Qaeda
(1994–2014)
ISIL
(2014–2017)
Battles / warsMoro conflict
Battle of Tipo-Tipo
Battle of Marawi†
Spouse(s)Kaye Andrea Noval

In the early morning of October 16, 2017, he was killed by the Philippine Army in theBattle of Marawi,along withOmar Maute.[6]

Early life

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According to theFederal Bureau of Investigationand theUnited States Department of StateRewards for Justice Program,Isnilon Totoni Hapilon was born on March 18, 1966, inLantawan, Basilan,Philippines.[7][8]However, hisschool transcriptsindicate his birthdate as March 10, 1968, and his birthplace asMaluso, Basilan.His listed parent/guardian is Haridja Hapilon, ahousekeeper.[1]According to thePhilippine Daily Inquirer,he had five siblings, and his father was a villageimamnamed Hapilon Totoni.[9]

Hapilon started elementary school in 1978, at the age of 10, enrolling at Maluso Central Elementary School. He had a perfect attendance from the first to the fifth grade, but had 28 days of absence and six days of tardiness in his sixth grade claiming that he had to "run errands"; he finished in 1984 with an average grade of 78%. He then enrolled at Basilan National High School, but his transcript ends with his first year even though he was eligible to proceed to second year.[1][9]

In an interview with thePhilippine Daily Inquirer,formerLantawanmayorTahira Ismael,Hapilon'smadrasaclassmate, claimed that Hapilon "performed poorly in academics".[9]

TheFBI Most Wanted Terrorists list,and some newspapers including thePhilippine Daily Inquirer,The Straits Times,andThe Philippine Star,reported that Hapilon earned an engineering degree from theUniversity of the Philippines.[8][10][11][12]On May 31, 2017, the University of the Philippines issued a statement refuting the earlier reports, declaring that they have no record of an alumnus or former student named Isnilon Hapilon.[13][14]

To help identify Hapilon, the US government described his personality as "likable by peers; proud and confident in his abilities" and his physique as "skinny; may have chin hair and slight mustache", being 5 ft. 5 in (1.65 m) to 5 ft. 7 in (1.70 m) tall[7]and weighing around 120 lb (54 kg).[8]

According to theFBI,he used a number of aliases including Abu Musab, Sol, Abu Tuan, Esnilon, and Salahuddin.[8]TheRewards for Justice Programlists further aliases including Abubakar Hapilon, Amah Hi Omar, Abu Omar, Abubakar, and Bakkal.[7]He spokeTausug,Tagalog,Yakan,andArabic,as well as English.[8][10][12]He may have traveled toSaudi ArabiaandMalaysiain the past.[8]

Militant activity

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Moro National Liberation Front

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Hapilon joined theMoro National Liberation Front(MNLF) in 1985 and traveled betweenSuluand Basilan. While he was with the rebel group, he took upArabicandmadrasaeducation again and became the spokesperson of Commander Barahama Sali in 1992. A strong military offensive in 1994 and the death of Commander Sali forced them to flee to Sampinit Complex inSumisip,where he metAbdurajak Abubakar Janjalani.[9][12][15]

Abu Sayyaf

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Disaffected with the MNLF while in hiding in Sampinit, Hapilon joined theAbu Sayyafgroup led byAbdurajak Abubakar Janjalani,who also became his religious mentor. He eventually rose through the ranks of Abu Sayyaf, becoming one of the group's leaders.[note 2][9][12][18]

In June 2002, Hapilon and four otherAbu Sayyafleaders—Khadaffy Janjalani,Hamsiraji Marusi Sali,Aldam Tilao,andJainal Antel Sali, Jr.—were indicted in absentia by theUnited Statesgovernment for their role in the 2000Dos Palmas kidnappingsof seventeen Filipinos and three Americans, and the eventual beheading of one of the Americans, Guillermo Sobero. The August 2000 kidnapping of Jeffrey Schilling, and the deaths of two hostages—American missionary Martin Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap—were also cited in the indictment.[19][20][21]

Hapilon was the only one of the five indicted still alive by 2017.[22]On February 24, 2006, he was added to the FBI'sMost Wanted Terroristslist, along with Janjalani and Jainal Sali, Jr.[23]TheRewards For Justice Programof theUS State Departmentoffered up toUS$5 million (approx. 256 millionPhilippine pesosat the time of his death) for information leading to his capture.[22]

In July 2002, Philippine authorities raided Hapilon's suspected hideout inZamboanga Citywith the intention of arresting him. However, he managed to escape prior to their arrival.[24]

In May 2008, Hapilon was shot in the hand during a military operation inJolo.His son, Tabari, also an Abu Sayyaf fighter, was fatally wounded.[25][26]

Hapilon was wounded in April 2013, in a military offensive that killed eight other Islamist militants inTipo-Tipo, Basilan.Hapilon sustained a "slight wound" on the head during the raid, but his followers managed to drag him off safely before the soldiers could seize control of their base.[27][28]There were United States intelligence reports claiming he may have suffered a stroke at some point.[29]

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the Philippines

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On July 23, 2014, a video of Hapilon along with other masked men was uploaded toYouTube,where theyswore their allegiancetoAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi,the leader ofISIL.[note 3][34][35]

On April 9, 2016, Hapilon and Basilan-based commander Furuji Indama led 150 Abu Sayyaf fighters onan attack against government forcesinTipo-Tipo, Basilan.At least eighteen soldiers were killed and more than fifty other soldiers were wounded in the ten-hour shootout. Hapilon's son, Ubaida, was among the five Abu Sayyaf fighters killed in the encounter. Additional government forces were deployed to capture or kill Hapilon.[36][37][38]

A June 21, 2016, video by ISIL entitled "The Solid Structure" recognized Hapilon as themujahidauthorized to lead thejihadistsof the Islamic State in the Philippines, and designated him as theemirforSoutheast Asia.The video also called on Southeast Asian Islamist militants to travel to the Philippines and engage injihad.[3][39]

As of January 2017, ISIL acknowledged him as their member. He was known to be in Butig, Lanao del Sur for rectifying the Maute group and joining Abu Sayyaf to establish Islamic State in the Philippines. He was later promoted as emir of the "Philippine Province".[citation needed]

In May 2017, during a joint operation of theArmed Forces of the Philippinesand thePhilippine National Policeto capture Hapilon, militants of theMaute grouplaunched anattack in Marawi.As of that time, Hapilon was in Marawi, alongside his supporters. He was believed to be injured.[40]

In October 16, Isnilon and Omar Maute were killed in a military operation in Marawi, which rescued 17 hostages. The deaths were confirmed by Defense SecretaryDelfin Lorenzana.[41]Lorenzana announced on October 21 that theFBIconfirmed that the DNA sample of a body recovered by AFP matched that of Hapilon. This was confirmed by Lamont Siller, the FBI's legalattachéat theEmbassy of the United States, Manila[42]as well as the embassy's spokeswoman Molly Koscina.[43]

Notes

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  1. ^Arabic:أبو عبد الله الفلبيني, English:Father of Abdullah, the Filipino
  2. ^Nur Misuari,leader of theMNLF,signed apeace agreementwith the Philippine government in 1996.Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani,a former MNLF fighter, recruited other disappointed radical MNLF members to form theAbu Sayyaf,which aims to establish an independentIslamic stateinstead of anautonomous region.[16][17]
  3. ^Abu Sayyafused to be affiliated withal-Qaeda:Abu Sayyaf founderAbdurajak Abubakar JanjalanimetOsama bin Laden,the founder of al-Qaeda, during theSoviet–Afghan War(1979–89). Abu Sayyaf was then funded by al-Qaeda throughMohammad Jamal Khalifa,a brother-in-law to bin Laden.[30] ISIS,another militant group, was affiliated with al-Qaeda from October 2004 to February 2014, when al-Qaeda publicly disavowed any relations with ISIS after an eight-month power struggle. Other armed Islamist groups previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, including the Abu Sayyaf, eventually pledged allegiance to ISIS. This resulted in ISIS becoming more powerful than al-Qaeda.[31][32][33]

References

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  1. ^abcdFonbuena, Carmela (June 1, 2017)."What ISIS follower Isnilon Hapilon's transcripts reveal about his childhood".Rappler.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
  2. ^Moubayed, Sami (February 12, 2017)."The Philippines: a new source of grass roots for ISIS?".Asia Times.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  3. ^abNess, Marielle (June 15, 2017)."Beyond the caliphate: Islamic state activity outside the group's defined wilayat: Southeast Asia"(PDF).United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, U.S.: Combating Terrorism Center. United States Military Academy. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on June 14, 2017.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  4. ^"Abu Sayyaf rebels pledge allegiance to ISIS".manilatimes.net. January 11, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon June 27, 2016.RetrievedOctober 15,2017.
  5. ^"Islamic State details activity in the Philippines".The Long War Journal.RetrievedOctober 15,2017.
  6. ^"Terrorists Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute killed in Marawi battle".ABS-CBN News.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.
  7. ^abc"Isnilon Hapilon".rewardsforjustice.net.Rewards for Justice. Archived fromthe originalon June 14, 2017.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
  8. ^abcdef"ISNILON TOTONI HAPILON".fbi.gov.Federal Bureau of Investigation.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
  9. ^abcdeAlipala, Julie (June 1, 2017)."FBI called out on fake Hapilon news".Philippine Daily Inquirer.RetrievedJuly 10,2017.
  10. ^abDancel, Raul (May 25, 2017)."Abu Sayyaf chieftain Isnilon Hapilon: Engineering grad now one of world's most wanted terrorists".The Straits Times.Singapore Press Holdings.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
  11. ^Alipala, Julie (May 26, 2017)."Hunt for Abu Sayyaf chief leads to Marawi battle".Philippine Daily Inquirer.RetrievedJuly 11,2017.
  12. ^abcd"Who is Philippines' most wanted militant Isnilon Hapilon?".The Philippine Star.May 25, 2017.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
  13. ^De Jesus, Julliane Love (May 31, 2017)."Abu Sayyaf chief Isnilon Hapilon not a UP graduate".Philippine Daily Inquirer.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
  14. ^"Isnilon Hapilon not a graduate of UP, admin clarifies".GMA News.June 1, 2017.RetrievedJune 27,2017.
  15. ^Gita, Ruth Abbey (July 5, 2017)."2 Vietnamese captives found dead in Basilan".Sun.Star.Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2017.RetrievedJuly 10,2017.
  16. ^"Chronology for Moros in the Philippines".refworld.org.Minorities at Risk Project.2004.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
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  19. ^"U.S. Charges Abu Sayyaf Members in Missionary's Death".PBS.July 23, 2002.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  20. ^Brush, Pete (June 28, 2002)."U.S. Indicts Abu Sayyaf Members".CBS.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  21. ^"U.S. charges Abu Sayyaf leaders in kidnappings".CNN.July 24, 2002.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  22. ^abReward offerArchivedJune 8, 2007, at theWayback Machineon five ASG members,Rewards for Justice Program,US Department of State; accessed October 16, 2017.
  23. ^FBI Updates Most Wanted Terrorists and Seeking Information – War on Terrorism ListsArchivedAugust 30, 2010, at theWayback Machine,FBI national Press Release,February 24, 2006.
  24. ^Pareño, Roel (July 29, 2002)."Sayyaf leader Hapilon eludes arrest in Zamboanga".The Philippine Star.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  25. ^Wee, Darwin (May 2, 2008)."Abu Sayyaf leader wounded in battle".GMA News.RetrievedJuly 11,2017.
  26. ^"Abu Sayyaf leader wounded, son killed in Philippine offensive".Australian Broadcasting Corporation.May 1, 2008.RetrievedJuly 11,2017.
  27. ^Mogato, Manuel (April 16, 2013)."Top Filipino militant wounded in army attack".Reuters.RetrievedJuly 10,2017.
  28. ^Calonzo, Andreo (April 16, 2013)."Army officer: Abu Sayyaf leader Hapilon hurt in Basilan clash".GMA News.RetrievedJuly 10,2017.
  29. ^Wilson, Karl (February 26, 2010)."Abu Sayyaf continues to pull numbers to resistance".The National.Abu Dhabi Media.RetrievedJuly 10,2017.
  30. ^James, Michael; Cooley, John (December 20, 2001)."The Abu Sayyaf-Al Qaeda Connection".ABC News.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  31. ^Sly, Liz (February 3, 2014)."Al-Qaeda disavows any ties with radical Islamist ISIS group in Syria, Iraq".The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  32. ^Mohammed, Riyadh (November 16, 2014)."SIS Beheads Another American as 60 New Terror Groups Join".The Fiscal Times.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  33. ^Rogers, Mike (November 25, 2015)."ISIS may be more dangerous than al Qaeda".CNN.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  34. ^Ressa, Maria (October 15, 2014)."Senior Abu Sayyaf leader swears oath to ISIS".Rappler.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  35. ^"Philippine militants pledge allegiance to ISIS".The Daily Star.August 15, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon December 30, 2018.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  36. ^Cahiles, Gerg; Jocson, Liza (April 10, 2016)."18 soldiers dead, 5 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Basilan encounter".CNN Philippines.Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2018.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  37. ^Santos, Eimor (July 9, 2016)."Wesmincom: Sporadic firefight ongoing in Basilan".CNN Philippines. Archived fromthe originalon September 28, 2017.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  38. ^"Over 100 ASG bandits fought in Basilan clash".Philippine Daily Inquirer.Manila. April 10, 2016.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  39. ^Buan, Lian (June 13, 2017)."Calida: Military knew Marawi terror plot as early as April".Rappler.Manila.RetrievedJuly 12,2017.
  40. ^"Winning the war with IS in the Philippines, but losing the peace".The Economist.July 20, 2017.RetrievedJuly 22,2017.
  41. ^Viray, Patricia Lourdes (October 16, 2017)."Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute confirmed killed in Marawi".Philstar.com.RetrievedOctober 16,2017.
  42. ^Aben, Ellie Lourdes (October 21, 2017)."FBI confirms death of Isnilon Hapilon in Marawi".Arab News.RetrievedOctober 21,2017.
  43. ^"Marawi: DNA test confirms death of Isnilon Hapilon, one of FBI's most wanted terror suspects".ABC News. Associated Press. October 22, 2017.RetrievedOctober 22,2017.
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