|
Friday, November 18, 2005
Sayyaf leader killed in Tawi-Tawi clash
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Government soldiers killed a senior Abu Sayyaf leader implicated in the kidnapping last year of three Indonesian and Malaysian sailors, in a firefight in the southern province of Tawi-Tawi, officials said Thursday.
Officials said Jatib Usman, alias Commander Milikan, was killed along with two of his followers, Pulah Alih and Faizal Mutia, on Wednesday in Buan village, in Panglima Sugala town.
Marine spokesman Major Melquiades Ordiales said soldiers also captured Usman's son Aldren Amil. "Milikan's killing is a big blow to the Abu Sayyaf group in Tawi-Tawi," he said.
Southern Command spokesman Major Gamal Hayudini said security forces were still hunting down other Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda in Tawi-Tawi.
"There is an ongoing operation against the terrorists," he said.
Hayudini said troops have recovered an M16 and two M1 automatic rifles from the slain militants, including radio communication equipment.
The military linked Usman's group to the kidnapping of the 3 sailors in off Tawi-Tawi on May 2004 and 21 mostly Asian and Western holiday-makers in the island resort of Sipadan off Sabah in Malaysia in April 2000.
And the kidnappings of dozens of Christian missionaries in Jolo island also in 2000.
Police also tagged Usman as behind the killing last year of a 58-year-old farm caretaker Rodrigo Alejandro and his son, Rodrigo, after they failed to pay illegal taxes to the Abu Sayyaf group.
In Jolo island, security forces were still pursuing Abu Sayyaf and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels, who killed four soldiers and wounded 22 others in fierce clashes since Friday.
Dozens of gunmen were also killed in the fighting in the towns of Indanan and Panamao, known strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf and MNLF in the island, about 950 kilometers south of Manila.
Soldiers have captured three rebel bases in Indanan since Monday, the military said.
The fighting was triggered by an Abu Sayyaf attack on a marine patrol Friday in the village of Buanza in Indanan and hostilities spread the next day to nearby areas.
The island's military commander, Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, accused the MNLF of aiding the Abu Sayyaf and in many instances fought alongside with them.
Aleo said his group is pursuing Abu Sayyaf leaders in Jolo island, Albader Parad and Radulan Sahiron, and Umbra Jumdail Gumbahali, who are all included in the terror lists of Washington and Manila.
Manila blamed the Abu Sayyaf for the series of terrorism and kidnappings in the south.
Reports said as many as 2,500 civilians were displaced by the strife.
In February, at least 25 soldiers and some 120 MNLF and Abu Sayyaf militants had been killed in weeks of fierce clashes following a rebel attack on a military post in Jolo.
Most of the attackers were loyal supporters of jailed MNLF leader Nur Misuari.
Misuari formerly headed the MNLF that accepted limited autonomy and signed a peace deal with the government in 1996. But violence flared again in November 2001 after some 200 former rebels, backed by the Abu Sayyaf, attacked a major army base in Jolo.
Misuari later escaped to Malaysia where he was arrested and deported back to the Philippines.
He was imprisoned on charges of rebellion, which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, but thousands of his followers and supporters still maintain strongholds in Jolo. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(November 18, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
