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Monday, January 08, 2007
Indonesian militant killed in Tawi Tawi
MANILA -- An Indonesian member of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah was among six Muslim militants killed at the weekend in a sea clash with Philippine troops off the country's southern coast, an official said Sunday.
The Philippine army, navy, and marines were involved in Saturday's gunbattle that killed the six militants aboard a motorboat off Tawi Tawi province, 1,050 kilometers southwest of Manila, navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said.
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Indonesian terrorist suspect Gufran, who used only one name and allegedly belonged to the Indonesian-based militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, was among the dead, Bacordo said.
Five Filipinos members of Abu Sayyaf, a group also thought to have links to al-Qaida, were also killed.
Gufran was a key aide of Dulmatin, a top Indonesian terror suspect who has been hunted by troops in a months-long US-backed offensive on southern Jolo island, he said.
Gufran's reported death bolsters military reports that Indonesian militants have taken refuge in the southern Philippines-scene of a decades-old Islamic separatist insurgency.
Militants
Philippine authorities reported on Saturday that among the Filipino militants killed was Judnam Jamalul. Jamalul was among 17 Abu Sayyaf members, including the group's chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani, who are wanted by the United States for attacks on American citizens.
US and Philippine authorities have offered a reward of US$20,000 for Jamalul's capture.
Another ranking Abu Sayyaf member, Abu Hubaida, and two key aides of Janjalani and prominent Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Sulaiman were also killed in Saturday's clash. Troops recovered two M16 rifles an M203 grenade launcher and huge amounts of ammunition on the rebels' boat, marine spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Caculitan said.
Troops were pursuing the militants but they managed to flee from Jolo two days ago. Marines spotted and engaged the group Saturday in a firefight off Tawi Tawi, he said.
An officer involved in the assault said the military had information that the militants were planning to carry out kidnappings in Tawi Tawi to raise funds.
The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to the media.
Hunt
More than 7,000 army troops and marines have been hunting the Abu Sayyaf's top leaders and allied Indonesian militants since August 1 but have failed so far to find them. The militants' death Saturday was among the most important achievements of that campaign, Caculitan said.
Janjalani was reportedly killed in a clash on Jolo in September and troops recovered what were believed to be his remains last month. US forensic experts are helping verify the identity of the body using DNA tests. (AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (January 8, 2007 issue)
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