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Sunday, October 30, 2005
Abu leader's brod slain in Jolo clash
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Security forces killed a brother of a senior Abu Sayyaf leader during a clash in Jolo in Sulu Province, officials said Saturday.
According to officials many gunmen were also wounded in the clash that occurred in the village of Asturias late Friday.
There were no reports of casualties in the military side but the island's military chief, Brigadier General Alexander Aleo said the killing of Lalong Parad is a serious blow to the Abu Sayyaf, who is blamed for a series of terrorist activities and banditry in the south.
The slain militant was the brother of Albader Parad, who is one of those wanted by the US for the killing of two of its citizens in 2001 and the 2000 kidnapping of 21 people in Sipadan island off Sabah.
"Parad's death was surely a big blow because he is one of the most notorious criminal in Jolo and behind the killings of many innocent civilians and soldiers, and the kidnapping this year of three Indonesian sailors," Aleo said.
It was unknown whether the militants were planning new attacks or just resting for the night.
Aleo said troops on Saturday were still tracking down the rest of Parad's gang in Jolo, where security forces mounted fresh campaign against the terrorist group with links to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Last Wednesday, government forces stormed a militant hideout in Zamboanga City and captured seven people, including Hilarion "Ahmad" Santos, the alleged leader of the radical group called Rajah Soliman Movement.
Policemen, backed by troops, also recovered a cache of anti-tank rockets from the hideout in San Jose village.
Authorities linked the group, composed mostly of Christians, who converted to Islam, to JI and was believed behind the spate of bombings in Manila since 2000.
It said the Rajah Soliman is the most radical group next to the Abu Sayyaf and that the group has terror cells across the country.
"We have established that Santos and his Rajah Soliman group is tied to JI and the Abu Sayyaf. There is an ongoing operation to track down other members of the group hiding in the southern Philippines," said Southern Command Chief Edilberto Adan.
The military doubled its security in the country because of increasing threats of attacks by either the Abu Sayyaf or the JI.
Troops are hunting down two senior JI bomb-makers Dulmatin and Umar Patek, believed to be hiding in the southern Philippines.
The duo masterminded the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people.
The US has tagged the Abu Sayyaf and JI as foreign terrorist organizations. (Sunnex)
(October 30, 2005 issue)
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