Monday, August 16, 2004 Troops still looking for kidnap leader's body By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- Military units continue their search for the body of Pentagon kidnap for ransom group leader Tahir Alonto, believed killed during a military operation in Liguasan Marsh on Friday.
Col. Jerry Jalandoni, deputy chief of the Army's 604th Brigade and the ground commander of the assault team, said the last report they received was that Alonto's body was buried somewhere at Sitio Tatak, Barangay Midpandan in SK Pendatun, Maguindanao.
Jalandoni said Alonto was killed during the massive air strike last August 13 in several areas in Liguasan Marsh, part of SK Pendatun town in Maguindanao, suspected to be Pentagon's hideout.
He said 15 of Alonto's followers were also killed during the air strikes. Muslims bury their dead within 24 hours.
However, Moro Islamic Liberation Front spokesman Eid Kabalu said that Alonto might still be alive.
"Our people on the ground told us that he was not killed but was seriously injured during the attack," Kabalu said.
He confirmed that the house of Alonto was among those hit in the military bombing but there was no immediate information if he was inside the house at the time.
Reports said Alonto's house burst into flames when "explosives inside his hideout were hit by rockets and machine gun fires."
Military reports earlier said Alonto has been having difficulty moving around because of his illness. He is said to be suffering from diabetes.
Kabalu said MILF rebels were helping authorities determine if Alonto was among those killed in the bombing.
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