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Sunday, January 07, 2007
6 Sayyafs killed in Tawi-Tawi firefight
By Ulysses Israel
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Philippine troops on Saturday killed six members of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group, including one wanted by the United States for involvement in the kidnapping of Americans, a military spokesman said.
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In a separate operation, two other Abu Sayyaf members who allegedly took part in an assault on a government hospital in 2001, were arrested in southern Zamboanga city, said Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro.
Philippine Navy and Army special forces troops backed by Marines clashed with a group of rebels in waters off Panglima Sugala, southern Tawi-Tawi province Saturday, killing all six gunmen on a boat, he said.
"They were completely neutralized," Bacarro said.
Among those killed were sub-commanders Abu Hubaida and alias "Black Killer," who carries a US$20,000 reward from the US government, Major Eugene Batara, spokesman of Western Mindanao Command said.
Hubaida is among 17 Abu Sayyaf leaders and members, including the group's chieftain, Khadaffy Janjalani, who are wanted by the United States for involvement in attacks on American citizens.
The Abu Sayyaf abducted three American tourists and 17 Filipinos from a resort in May 2001. One of the Americans was beheaded soon after the kidnapping and another was killed during a military rescue operation the following year.
Batara said joint elements of the Military Intelligence Group (MIG 9), 2nd Marine Batallion Landing Team, Task Force Comet and Naval Special Operations Group engaged the extremists group and an intense firefight ensued for about 30 minutes.
The remains of all seven killed gunmen were recovered, along with the group's twin-motor pump boat, one M16 rifle, and one M203 grenade launcher, he said.
No other details were immediately available, he said.
Earlier on Saturday, two Abu Sayyaf members involved in the Lamitan hospital siege in Basilan province were also arrested in Zamboanga City.
Batara identified the suspected Abu Sayyaf members as Abu Sampang and Wakil Sampang, who were collared at a restaurant on Governor Camins Avenue at around 2:30 p.m.
A US-backed offensive was launched on southern Jolo island, north of Tawi-Tawi, in August, searching for Janjalani and two cohorts, top Indonesian terror suspects Dulmatin and Umar Patek.
Dulmatin, who goes by one name, and Patek are suspects in the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people and allegedly have provided bomb-making training to Indonesian and Filipino guerrillas.
Janjalani was reportedly killed in a clash on Jolo and troops late December recovered what were believed to be his remains. US forensic experts are helping verify the identity of the body using DNA tests.
The naval clash and arrests come amid security preparations for twin Asian summits of 16 leaders next week in central Cebu city, and a month after Philippine forces intensified operations against suspected al-Qaida-linked militants to prevent a possible attack during the meetings.
Security officials, however, have not identified any specific terror threat against the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asian summits. (With AP)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (January 7, 2007 issue)
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