3. Basilan province:
Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago. It is located just off the southern coast of the geographic Zamboanga Peninsula. Isabela City, is a component city of Basilan, but is administered as part of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region. Its capital has been transferred to Lamitan City.
Basilan is home to three main native ethnolingusitic nations in the province prior to the arrival other migrant ethnolingusitic nations, the indigenous Yakans, and the later-arriving Tausugs and Zamboangueño. The Yakans and Tausugs are predominantly Muslim, while the Zamboangueño are mainly Christian. There are also a number of smaller nations. Although the official language is English, the major language is Yakan and lingua franca is Chavacano, but other languages are well represented, including Tausug, Cebuano, and Samal.
Abu Sayyaf uses this island near Jolo for some of what the government calls “lairs.” In 2001, five hostages including two Americans died in one of the country’s worst Abu Sayyaf incidents. Enough of the group’s followers hang out in Basilan that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has directed much of his firepower there, killing two as recently as last month. The provincial seat Isabela is regarded as passably safe but little else is, Philippine travel writers say. A lot of tourists visit the province only with security personnel.