On Basilan, Abu Sayyaf kidnapped, tortured and killed a Christian farmer who had served as a guide for army troops. Abu Sayyaf maintains support from local civilians through a combination of generosity (they spread the ransom money around), family ties (most of the Abu Sayyaf rebels are locals) and terror (threats, kidnappings and murder.) The terror is most often used against Christians, who comprise a minority in the southern Philippines.
