Hunt for Sayyaf leader starts

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Police operations against the Abu Sayyaf leader, who was injured and has escaped a government raid, was launched Saturday.

Khair Mundos managed to escape when the government troops overran the Abu Sayyaf bandits’ training camp in Sitio Dulian, Calabasa village, 55 kilometers east of Zamboanga City on Thursday.

“A pursuit operation against him (Mundos) is now ongoing,” Police Regional Director Napoleon Estilles said.

The government raid resulted in the death of four Abu Sayyaf bandits, a bandit's wife and injured four other people including Mundos.

One of the four slain bandits was Termije Ajijul, a right hand of Mundos. Ajijul’s wife, Sitti Raja Salvin, was also killed.

The government raid also led to the safe rescue of Yuan-Kai Lin, 38, a Chinese national, who was kidnapped along with a companion last June 4 in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

His companion, Jian Luo, 48, was released last August 26.

Meanwhile, Estilles said the fallen training camp of the Abu Sayyaf is being used by Mundos’ group “in keeping kidnap victims.”

Estilles said the fallen training camp also serves as safe haven for Abu Sayyaf members from the province of Basilan and Sulu.

Mundos is wanted by the Philippine and United States government for his role in the transfer of funds from the Al-Qaeda terrorist network with the Abu Sayyaf group.

The Abu Sayyaf group used the funds to carry out atrocities to include bombings here in Mindanao and other parts of the country.

The United States Department of Justice is offering $500,000 for information leading to the arrest of Mundos.

Mundos was captured in 2004 but bolted from Kidapawan provincial jail in 2007.

Mundos, while in government custody, confessed to have arranged funds for terrorist bombings throughout Mindanao. (Sunnex)