Wednesday, October 15, 2003
AFP denies clash with Sayyaf leader
By Gwen P. Posadas
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The military on Monday denied reports Abu Sayyaf (ASG) leader Khadaffy Janjalani was injured during artillery attacks in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, saying no armed encounters with the group have occurred since last week.
"We never had an armed encounter with Janjalani," Brig. Gen. Alexander Yano, commanding officer of the Army's 601st Brigade, said in an interview.
Earlier, Col. Edgardo Gurrea, chief of the Joint Task Force Gensan and deputy Commander of the 601st Army Brigade, admitted they received reports saying Janjalani was injured and weak.
But Yano said that aside from manhunt operations against the group, particularly in Barangay Butril in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, where Janjalani and his men reportedly set up camp, there was no personal encounter with the Abu Sayyaf leader.
Yano said since they launched operations against the group, they have arrested a total of 11 suspects, including two in Butril.
"The group (Abu Sayyaf) is still in the area (Butril). We have arrested 11 of them and the operation still continues until we finally track them down," he said.
The suspected Abu Sayyaf members were brought to Zamboanga and Jolo where they are now facing charges of kidnapping with serious illegal detention.
(October 15, 2003 issue)
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