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Friday, February 21, 2003
Top Abu leader killed in clash, says military
ZAMBOANGA -- A top leader of the Abu Sayyaf gang operating in Sulu was killed in a gun battle Tuesday in one of the province's towns, in Jolo, where US troops are to deployed later this year, the military claimed Thursday.
Mujib Susukan was among 10 Abu Sayyaf rebels killed in a clash with Army troops in Barangay Bandang in Talipao, the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement.
"One of the fatalities was Mujib Susukan, aka Levis, himself," the statement said, referring to the rebel leader's alias.
In a statement, Southern Command spokesman, Lt. Col. Daniel A. Lucero, said residents of Bandang told the military that they were ordered by Abu Sayyaf guerillas to bury 10 of their comrades killed during the encounter Tuesday between 53rd Infantry Battalion soldiers and the bandits in the barangay.
The statement added that military officials were now trying to "locate the burial site" of Susukan, who was positively identified as among the dead by the villagers.
The military's Sulu Island Task Group is still trying to verify the claim of the villagers, even if local government officials in Talipao already confirmed Susukan's death, added Lucero in the statement.
Susukan, who was based in Sulu, had a P5 million reward for his capture. He was charged, among others, with 20 counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Jolo, Sulu.
He was among the Abu Sayyaf rebels who planned and carried out two cross border raids into Malaysian resorts in 2000, when dozens of mostly European hostages were later ransomed off for millions of dollars.
US and Philippine intelligence officials have linked the Abu Sayyaf to the al-Qaeda terror network of Osama bin Laden blamed for the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Only this week, President Arroyo approved the deployment of US forces for counter-terrorism exercises aimed at wiping out Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo.
And on Thursday, an advance team of US Special Forces arrived in nearby Zamboanga City to begin 10 months of counter-terrorism training to Philippine troops hunting the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.
The Philippine military, meanwhile, attributes the following crimes to Susukan:
* Kidnapping of foreign missionaries Julia Foraster and Farina Uribarren of Spain in Mauro Beach, Busbus, Jolo, Sulu on January 17, 1993
* Abduction of three Hong Kong-based Chinese nationals, all employees of the JACHIPIL Aquatic and Agricultural Development Corporation and Higood Marketing Associate Incorporated while they were in Barangay Malmanoc, Sitankai, Tawi-Tawi
* Kidnapping of Bong Indoso, son of the proprietor of Zambo Store in Jolo, Sulu in January 2000
* Kidnapping of Andy Amante, a missionary, in February 2000 in Samak, Talipao, Sulu
* Kidnapping of Patrick Viray of the Allied Bank, Jolo, Sulu in March 2000 in Indanan, Sulu and
* Abduction of 21 foreign nationals from the Sidapan Resort, Pulao Simballun, Sabah, Malaysia in April 2000
* The taking hostage of 12 members of the Jesus Miracle Crusade and the
* Kidnapping of Taiwanese national Xiao Liu along the vicinity of Block 2, Barangay Kasanyangan Village, Jolo, Sulu.
Susukan is also involved in the taking hostage of several foreign journalists who went to the Abu Sayyaf camp in relation to their coverage of the Sipadan kidnapping crisis.
The foreign journalists were released a few days later, but some of their equipment and some personal belongings were taken by the group.
Aside from Susukan, the only other leader of the notorious Abu Sayyaf gang in Sulu is Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot.
Amid heavy escort, a 12-member team of US Special Forces arrived at the Zamboanga City airport aboard a C-17 Globemaster cargo plane from a military base in Okinawa, Japan, and were brought to a nearby base.
They will join 12 other advisers already in the city to prepare for the start of exercises next week, Filipino military officials said. About 60 more US Special Forces are set to arrive in the coming days.
The US soldiers are to train 14 "light Infantry Battalions" or about 7,000 Filipino soldiers, until December, according to officials. Sun.Star Zamboanga/With AFP |
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