Sulu was declared free of Abu Sayyaf group in September 2023. Source: PLGU-Sulu

Sulu has been declared free of the influence of the Abu Sayyaf group in September 2023. This latest development of men turning to take the government's peace offer is not a surprise for the community, families in Sulu want to focus on work, schools, building a safe society. Former Abu Sayyaf supporters are turning away from weapons and towards a peaceful life. But the "Sulu claim" lobby tells the world a different story, of endless conflict and inevitable grievances for the region. But the gap between these two supposed realities matters, for the people who want peaceful lives and, on the other hand, for the people who want to fund billable hours.

Sulu Has Been Declared Abu Sayyaf Free Already Two Years Ago

The surrenderees pledged their loyalty to the government and want to take part in the peace offer from the government, to be reintegrated as civilians into society, turning away from fighting. The Abu Sayyaf group was known for terror attacks in the region, that claimed numerous lives through ransom kidnapping and bomb attacks. The provincial task force to end local armed conflict will supervise the rehabilitation and reintegration. With Jolo transforming from "terrorism to tourism", the province is putting conflict behind and enjoying economic growth. In 2022 Julkiram Arastam, who was Sulu's provincial tourism officer, said "Ten years ago, we could only dream that one day peace and order would no longer be a problem in Sulu, and it would be able to show the world how beautiful it is.”

"Ten years ago, we could only dream that one day peace and order would no longer be a problem in Sulu, and it would be able to show the world how beautiful it is.”

Sulu is preparing for tourism, for visitors to enjoy the sandy beaches and turquoise waters, and for locals to earn a livelihood. With former Abu Sayyaf supporters handing in their weapons and Sulu being declared free of the group, the governor's call for a peaceful Sulu has been fruitful. As Arastram described "What we are saying, especially to our fellow Tausug, is let us be vigilant in safeguarding our province. Let us not allow the situation in the province to return to how it was before,” continuing that "We have started to personally feel peace in Sulu." It is not just tourists enjoying beautiful Sulu, but the locals themselves enjoy the sandy beaches.

"We have started to personally feel peace in Sulu."

And where once people rushed home before the dark, the local night market scene is growing. A beautiful celebration of that was the Night Market at Capitol in Jolo during this year's Bangsa Sug festival.

Sulu Is Moving Forward

An Instagram post by a solo traveler labeled "Jolo Is said to be the most DANGEROUS part of the Philippines. The heart of the RED ZONE!" describes his time in the city and how welcoming everyone has been. The traveler goes on to explain his position, how it was off limits to tourists and that it is much safer now. The locals welcomed him with open arms, saying that he was the first solo traveler they had seen. He described Jolo as "a cool city with humble people," wishing that "I hope things only get better for this misunderstood part of the Philippines."

Few travelers come to Sulu. But there is no wonder, that the picture of the region being unsafe does not change, with foreign governments travel warnings still in place. The Government of the United Kingdom states on their website in regards to safety and security in the Philippines that "there is a threat of kidnapping by terrorist groups operating in the Philippines, including the targeting of foreign nationals in rural, urban and coastal areas throughout Mindanao especially in the Sulu Archipelago and the Zamboanga Peninsula." The website further sites terror attacks from 2019 and 2020 in the Sulu Province, but makes no remarks about changes in the past years or that Sulu has been declared Abu Sayyaf free. The US. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs has an increased caution travel warning for the Philippines, specifically for the Sulu Archipelago. Also the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with the highest travel alert for Sulu, stating "Do not travel to: central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula; the Sulu Archipelago; and the southern Sulu Sea area due to the very high threat of terrorism and kidnapping."

"I hope things only get better for this misunderstood part of the Philippines."

Why the Picture Does Not Change

There seems to be a misalignment of the picture that is continuously held up in the media and by international governments, that Sulu is an unsafe place to visit. In comparison to the actual experience of locals, who start to prosper, enjoying what their beautiful part of the world has to offer and to tourists who actually visit the area.

Muhammad Fuad Abdulla Kiram, one of the claimants behind the Sulu case traveling through courtrooms in Europe, has officially been recognized as a terrorist due to his supposed involvement with groups enabling the 2013 Lahad Datu invasion. But besides this classification, British law firm Therium still funded Kiram's claim. Also, Australian based firm Ninety Mile Capital, recently established by former Therium executives, is eyeing the arbitration market in Southeast Asia, starting from Singapore, bringing foreign involvement into the region in further attempts to make profit of the back of local communities. When the threat of terror seems to not matter anymore as soon as individuals can profit off billable hours, it is dubious why a region that is showing potential for the future is still misrepresented internationally.

REFERENCES

Arab News. (2022, April 16).Recovering from militancy, southern Philippine province pins hopes on tourism. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.com/

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2025, September 23). Philippines travel advice & safety. Smartraveller. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Bangsamoro Government. (2023, September 27). Sulu now Abu Sayyaf-free, Provincial Peace and Order Council declares. Bangsamoro Government. https://bangsamoro.gov.ph/

Dnzh.travels (2025, September 25). Instagram post. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/

Government of the United Kingdom. (2025, September 25). Philippines: Safety and security. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/

Philstar Global. (2025, September 25). 10 ex-Abu Sayyaf supporters surrender in Sulu. The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/

Rasikhon Tenorio Mahari (2025) Bangsa Sug Day 2025 (Night Market). Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. (2025, May 8). Philippines travel advisory. Travel.State.Gov. https://travel.state.gov/

Zenn, J. (2025, July 30). Brief: As Philippine province declared free of Abu Sayyaf, counterterrorism in Southeast Asia moves online. Jamestown Foundation. https://jamestown.org/