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Saturday, November 06, 2004
Abu Sayyaf chief sighted in Isabela abode
By Jun Feliciano
A TOP Basilan military commander revealed to Sun.Star Zamboanga Friday that Abu Sayyaf over-all chieftain Kadaffy Janjalani recently visited his relatives at Barangay Tabuk, Isabela City, Basilan province.
The village of Tabuk, a few kilometers away from the commercial center of Isabela City, is known as the home-place of the Janjalanis. His parents are reportedly staying there.
The army officer said based on their intelligence source, Janjalani was monitored to have sneaked into Isabela last October before he returned to Central Mindanao, his present known lair where he operates with an elite group.
One of his two remaining top commanders, Isnilon Hapilon, was also spotted in the area that promoted the military to conduct their hot-pursuit operation last October.
"Si Janjalani bumisita sa kanyang kamag-anak sa Tabuk, Isabela noong October (Janjalani visited his relative in Tabuk last October)," the ranking army officer who talked on condition of anonymity disclosed to Sun.Star.
He was among the top military officers who attended last Thursday's turnover of command ceremony that installed Lt. General Alberto Braganza as the new Southcom commander, replacing Lt. General Generoso Senga.
Senga assumed the post of the Philippine Army chief vacated by the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. General Efren Abu last Wednesday.
But the army officer described Janjalani and his security core group as desperately on the run from the military, keeping track on them closely.
"They can not stay put for long in one place. They are very mobile as we have operatives tracking on them always," he said.
He considered Basilan as more safe at present compared to the past years when a series of kidnappings and other major atrocities were reported.
The United States offers a bounty of 10 million dollars for the capture of Janjalani in their campaign to fight terrorists with ties to Al Queda of Osama Bin Laden in the world.
The AFP said Janjalani also carries P10 million bounty for his head as reward for his capture--dead or alive.
In a previous interview with Sun.Star, 103rd Army Brigade Commander Col. Raymundo Ferrer, mentioned that Basilan has been frequented by more foreign visitors because of the improved current peace and order condition of the island.
One of their favorite spots is the world-class white sand beach of Malamawi island in Isabela according to him.
(November 6, 2004 issue)
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