7 soldiers, 4 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Sulu clash

Seven Marine troopers and four Abu Sayyaf members were killed while at least 19 other combatants were injured as government forces clashed with the bandit group in Patikul, Sulu, early Saturday, the military said.

Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said the clash started around 6:30 a.m., while members of the Marines’ Force Reconnaissance Company were conducting operations in Brgy. Tugas.

“This is part of the ongoing tracking and pursuit operations in relation to the recent kidnapping of a Marine’s wife in Sulu,” Gregorio said in a text message.

There were many casualties because the troops were “ambushed,” a security official monitoring the situation said, on condition of anonymity.

Gregorio said the “close firefight” resulted in the death of seven soldiers and injuries to nine others.

On the Abu Sayyaf, 10 were wounded and four others, including one Kausar Sawadjaan and a certain commander Apong Idol, were killed, he said.

As of Saturday noon, soldiers and policemen were still conducting “follow through actions” against the Abu Sayyaf.

“The safety and well-being of the community is paramount consideration. Focused military operations will continue to be observed,” Gregorio said.

On May 18, suspected Abu Sayyaf members abducted Casilda Villarasa, wife of Marine Sgt. Faustino Villarasa, in front of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) in Jolo.

Villarasa, who works as a medical technologist at the IPHO, is believed to have been taken by her abductors to the jungles of Patikul. (John Roson)

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8 killed as troops clash with Abu Sayyaf in Basilan

Two Army personnel, including an officer, and six suspected Abu Sayyaf members were killed as government troops clashed with bandits who ambushed them in Al Barka, Basilan, on Monday, military officials said.

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, identified the fatalities on the government side as Maj. Alin Kannung, executive officer of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, and Tsgt. Ferdinand Costan.

Six suspected Abu Sayyaf members were killed but only two bodies, identified to be those of a certain “Mingkong” and Mardan Sapilin, were recovered, Galvez said.

Four other soldiers, including Cpl. Julambre Sabri of the 18th Infantry Battalion, were injured during the clash while three Abu Sayyaf members wer reportedly wounded, he said.

The clash occurred around 3 p.m. while members of the 32nd and 18th IB were passing through Sitio Pagtawanan, Brgy. Magcawa, on military vehicles.

The soldiers were on their way to Brgy. Bohe Piang to distribute livestock and inspect future projects of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), when they were ambushed by about 30 fully-armed men, Galvez said.

The armed men are members of the Abu Sayyaf and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters led by Basir Kasaran alias Commander Basir and Musana Jamiri, he said.

“The government forces were subjected to mortar and sniper fires for three hours,” Galvez said.

“Naka-dismount naman ‘yung mga tropa natin during that and were able to fight back,” he said.

Kannung, a native of Tipo-Tipo, was a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander who was integrated into the Armed Forces after the government signed a peace agreement with that rebel group in 1996, Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, AFP Western Mindanao spokesman, said.

After joining the AFP, Kannung had been “very active” in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and this is believed to be the cause of the bandits’ hatred on him, Gregorio said.

Kannung’s group was to distribute goats and other livestock as part of the 104th Brigade’s livelihood assistance to residents of Brgys. Kambug and Bohe Piang, when they were ambushed, according to the regional military spokesman.

The area is the “home base” of Commander Dan Asnawi, Gregorio said.

Asnawi commands an armed unit of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with whom soldiers figured in a bloody clash on Oct. 18, 2011. Nineteen soldiers and five MILF guerrillas died in that fighting.

Gregorio said all the soldiers who were injured in Monday’s clash have been airlifted to the Camp Navarro Station Hospital in Zamboanga City.

Members of the 18th IB, backed by members of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, continued distributing livestock to residents of Brgy. Magcawa on Tuesday, despite the ambush, Galvez said. (John Roson)

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Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon wounded in Basilan raid – Army

Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, who is wanted by the US government, was wounded in the raid by the military in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, on Monday, an Army official said Tuesday.

Hapilon was grazed by a bullet on the head as reported by military snipers, Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, said in a phone interview.

A nephew of Hapilon also suffered a bullet wound to the shoulder while at least four other Abu Sayyaf members were injured, Galvez said.

Hapilon and the other wounded, however, escaped during the raid which targeted him and Furuji Indama, another high-ranking Abu Sayyaf commander.

“Apparently naka[takas] po sila (Hapilon and Indama), pero si Isnilon nagkaroon ng slight wound sa head,” Galvez said.

Eight Abu Sayyaf gunmen were seen as getting killed in the firefight, but troops recovered only two bodies, he said.

A report reaching the military headquarters in Manila said the two bodies found at the clash site belonged to an alias “Abu Digod” and a certain Buga Teddy.

Three soldiers, identified as Sgt. Magno of the Army, A2C Kasilag of the Air Force, and SN1 Merquit of the Navy, were wounded in the firefight, according to the report.

Galvez said the raid in Brgy. Silangkum was launched purposely to find Hapilon and Indama because their groups have been “pestering” Basilan residents with kidnappings and extortion.

“Walang let up po ito. Walang let up po itong operations na ito until the Tipo-Tipo and Al Barka areas have been cleared of the Abu Sayyaf. Nagfo-focused military operations kami ngayon,” he said.

According to the official, Hapilon and Indama’s latest exploits include extorting “protection money” from the contractor of the Basilan Circumferential Road.

“Ine-extort nila ng P1 million ‘yung contractor, P2 billion kasi ang contract nun… parang protection money ang hinihingi,” he said.

The contractor has so far finished 12 kilometers of the 121-kilometer road that would run around the entire island-province, according to the official.

Hapilon first gained notoriety for his involvement in the May 2001 incident at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan where 20 people, including three Americans, were kidnapped.

Guillermo Sobero, one of the three American kidnap victims, was beheaded a month after the abduction.

American missionary Martin Burnham, the other kidnap victim, was killed in the crossfire between the Abu Sayyaf and soldiers who conducted a rescue operation in October 2001. His wife Gracia was injured but rescued.

The Dos Palmas kidnappings prompted the US government to offer up to $5 million, or more than P206 million, for Hapilon’s capture or killing.

Indama, though not included in the US list of Filipino terror suspects, is an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander blamed for several bombing and kidnapping incidents, as well as the 2007 beheading of 10 Marine troopers in Basilan.

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Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah suspect killed in Davao City

Mohammad Noor Fikrie bin Abdul Kahar (photo in Malaysian passport, courtesy of Davao City Police)

Authorities shot dead a Malaysian believed to be a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) after he tried to detonate a bomb in Davao City on Friday night, a police official said.

Senior Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, Davao City Police director, identified the slain suspect as Mohammad Noor Fikrie bin Abdul Kahar, a native of Malaysia’s Kedah state.

Kahar was shot dead by members of the police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in front of the Apo View Hotel around 10:30 p.m. after a brief chase, Dela Rosa said in a text message.

Earlier, around 7 p.m., police received an information that Kahar and his Filipina wife had checked in at the Sampaguita Hotel in Camus st. cor Quirino st., bringing an “IED (improvised explosive device) to be used for a terror attack in Davao City,” Dela Rosa said.

Slain suspect Mohammad Noor Fikrie bin Abdul Kahar (Photo courtesy of Davao City Police)

He said this prompted him to alert the military and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and ask the hotel management to eject the suspects from their room.

Kahar and his wife, later identified as Anabelle Nieva Lee, were checking out around 10:30 p.m. when they were approached by Dela Rosa and NICA agents at the hotel lobby.

Kahar raised his cellphone, telling the operatives that he will detonate a bomb if they arrest or shoot him, Dela Rosa said.

“Everybody scampered for safety while the suspects went out to the road embracing each other, with Kahar raising his cellphone as if warning the lawmen of an impending IED explosion,” he said.

Members of the SWAT were ordered to shoot down Kahar, but could not do it as the area was crowded with pedestrians and motorists, Dela Rosa said.

Explosives experts disarming the bomb (Photo courtesy of Davao City Police)

Kahar suddenly grabbed his wife’s backpack and ran towards the People’s Park, but was cornered in front of the Apo View Hotel where he was shot.

The suspect’s backpack and bomb parts.

Police and military explosives experts later found the bomb, which was made of a 60-millimeter mortar ammunition, inside the backpack and disarmed it using the “water disruptor” technique.

Kahar’s remains have been brought to a funeral parlor. Lee, a native of Sorsogon and a Muslim convert, is presently detained at the Davao City Police Office’s investigative and detective management branch.

Kahar’s death came barely a month after authorities shot dead an Indonesian also believed to be a JI member inside the Mindanao State University compound in Marawi City on Nov. 22. (John Roson)

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Sayyaf in Jehovah’s Witnesses abduction falls in Zambo

Authorities arrested an alleged Abu Sayyaf member wanted for the abduction of Jehovah’s Witnesses preachers in Sulu 10 years ago, during an operation in Zamboanga City on Friday.

Suspect Walid Amping was arrested in Brgy. Tulongatung around 11:20 a.m., Senior Supt. James Mejia, Zamboanga City Police director, said.

The arrest was made after witnesses positively identified the suspect, Mejia said.

Amping, who was only in his teens during the abduction, has been using the name Alexander Antonio after going into hiding, said a police source, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

The suspect’s real name was only discovered when relatives visited him in detention, the source said.

Amping is presently being investigated for his possible involvement in the abduction of school teacher Flordeliza Ongchua in Brgy. Labuan on Nov. 13, the source added.

Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said Amping, who also uses the alias Tuma, is facing six counts of kidnapping for ransom and serious illegal detention.

Members of the Army’s Task Force Zamboanga, 3rd Air Division, and Zamboanga City Police carried out the arrest on a warrant issued by Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 266 Judge Toribio Ilao, he said.

On Aug. 20, 2002, Abu Sayyaf members kidnapped six Jehovah’s Witnesses preachers and their Muslim guide in Jolo, Sulu, and later beheaded two of the victims. (John Roson)

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Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah member killed in Marawi

An Indonesian believed to be a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) was killed during a police-military operation against members of the regional terror network inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, Thursday night.

Capt. Alberto Caber, spokesman of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said the suspect was identified only through the aliases Ustadz Sanusi and Ishak.

The suspect, charged with arson and murder, was shot during a commotion that ensued from the operation in Barrio Salam. He was brought to the Amai Pakpak Hospital but died later, Caber said.

“Namatay siya (suspect) sa hospital, meron siyang isang tama… hindi natin malaman pa kung sino ang nakabaril kasi nagkaroon ng commotion,” the regional Army spokesman said in a phone interview.

Caber said members of the 103rd Infantry Brigade and PNP Special Action Force (SAF) were sent to the MSU compound to arrest seven alleged JI personalities, including alias Ustadz Sanusi.

The warrant of arrest for was issued by 11th Judicial Region RTC Judge Oscar Noel Jr. of Saranggani, Caber said.

A SAF member was wounded when he fell from a building during the short pursuit. Policemen recovered a hand grenade and M16 rifle from alias Ustadz Sanusi, Caber said. (John Roson)

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9 Abu Sayyaf men killed in Sulu, military official says

At least nine Abu Sayyaf members were killed and about 20 were wounded when Marines clashed with the bandit group in Patikul, Sulu, on Sunday, a military official said Monday.

The fatalities included Sahiron Ajil and Ismin Sahiron, both relatives of Abu Sayyaf commander Radullan Sahiron, Col. Orlando de Leon, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade in Sulu, told reporters via phone.

De Leon, however, said only local residents and officials reported the number of Abu Sayyaf casualties and no bodies were recovered.

“Wala tayong body count, dahil close-quarter battle, divided lang kami ng ilog… instead of recovering ‘yung body count ng kalaban, I have to evacuate also ‘yung casualty ko, ‘yun ang priority sa akin kaysa recovery of bodies,” he said.

He confirmed that four soldiers were killed and 13 were injured in the fighting.

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said the four slain soldiers’ remains arrived in Zamboanga City early Monday on a Navy vessel.

Six of 13 injured soldiers were brought to the Camp Navarro Station Hospital, also in Zamboanga City, for further treatment while the others remain at the Trauma Hospital in Jolo, he said.

Members of the 6th Marine Battalion Landing Team clashed with Abu Sayyaf members under Radullan Sahiron and followers of Tahil Sali in Brgy. Bakong around 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

The troops, numbering 80 to 90, were then verifying reports on the presence of kidnap victims, Cabangbang said.

“Noong una nakabangga nila (Marines) ‘yung tropa ni Radullan Sahiron, mga more or less 60 ‘yun, tapos nag-reinforce si Tahil Sali umabot ng mga more or less 100, umabot ng mga limang oras ‘yung fighting,” Cabangbang said in a phone interview.

On Sunday, Cabangbang said two armed men, one of whom was identified as a certain “Kaisar,” were also killed in the clash.

There was no reported fighting as of Monday morning but troops are still pursuing the bandits, Cabangbang said.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos told reporters that 1,000 soldiers are now “directly involved” in pursuing the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. (John Roson)

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Marines-Abu Sayyaf clash killed 6

The number of fatalities in the clash between Marines and Abu Sayyaf members in Patikul, Sulu, rose to six and those injured to 13 as government troops continue to pursue the bandit group, the military said Monday.

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said the remains of four slain soldiers arrived in Zamboanga City early Monday on a Navy vessel.

Six of 13 injured soldiers were brought to the Camp Navarro Station Hospital, also in Zamboanga City, for further treatment while the others remain at the Trauma Hospital in Jolo, he said.

Members of the 6th Marine Battalion Landing Team clashed with Abu Sayyaf members under Radullan Sahiron and followers of Tahil Sali in Brgy. Bakong around 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

The troops, numbering 80 to 90, were then verifying reports on the presence of kidnap victims, Cabangbang said.

“Noong una nakabangga nila (Marines) ‘yung tropa ni Radullan Sahiron, mga more or less 60 ‘yun, tapos nag-reinforce si Tahil Sali umabot ng mga more or less 100, umabot ng mga limang oras ‘yung fighting,” Cabangbang said in a phone interview.

Also killed in the clash were two armed men, one of whom was identified as a certain “Kaisar.”

There was no reported fighting as of Monday morning but troops are still pursuing the bandits, Cabangbang said. (John Roson)

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5 killed, 10 hurt as Marines, Abu Sayyaf clash in Sulu

Three Marine troopers and two armed men were killed while 10 other soldiers were injured as security forces clashed with Abu Sayyaf members in Patikul, Sulu, early Sunday, a military spokesman said.

The clash occurred in Brgy. Bakong around 6:30 a.m., Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said.

Members of the 6th Marine Battalion Landing Team were patrolling to verify reports on the presence of kidnap victims in the area, when they encountered Abu Sayyaf members under Radullan Sahiron and followers of Tahil Sali, Cabangbang said.

The military has yet to release names of the slain and injured soldiers. Cabangbang, however, said one of the slain armed men has been identified as a certain Kaisar.

Maj. Gen. Rey Ardo, Western Mindanao Command chief, has ordered that all available air and naval assets be deployed to support the engaged troops and fetch the slain and injured, Cabangbang said. (John Roson)

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PNP still clueless on identities of Sulu air raid casualties

Police have confirmed that there were casualties in Thursday’s air strike in Parang, Sulu, but remained clueless on identities despite military claims that those killed were Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members.

“Ang maa-assure lang namin is may binomba dun ‘yung Air Force, ma-assure din namin is may namatay, pero with regards to the identity eh zero pa kami,” Chief Supt. Bienvenido Latag, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police director, said in a phone interview.

Hours after the predawn air raid, military officials and spokesmen said 15 were killed, including JI operatives Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Muhammad Ali bin Abd Al-Rahman alias Muawiyah, and Gumbahali Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu, a top Abu Sayyaf leader.

On Friday, Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos announced names of eight other fatalities, but admitted that no bodies were found at the bombarded area.

The eight comprise alias “Jumong,” a suspected Malaysian JI operative; Abu Sayyaf members Moammar Jumdail alias Ting, a son of Dr. Abu; Tati Jamhali; Tuan Nash Lipae; alias Leong; alias Teng; alias Muin; and alias Julpe.

“We are not in possession (of the bodies) right now, but we already have locations, some were taken deep into the MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) territory,” Burgos said.

Latag, for his part, said policemen who went to the area could not even tell how many were killed after OV-10 planes dropped four 260-pound bombs.

“Kino-collect pa ang reports galing sa ground kasi iba-iba ang sinasabi ng mga tao dun. May nagsasabi na labindalawa (ang namatay), may nagsasabi na walo,” he said.

“Immediately after the bombing nagpunta sila (policemen) doon, na-pinpoint nila exactly kung saan bumagsak ‘yung bomba and according to them, talagang may nawasak na mga bunker at saka may mga traces of blood, but wala silang nakuhang tao,” Latag said.

Latag, who once served as an operative in Sulu during the adbuction and captivity of three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers in 2009, said the bombs fell somwhere between Brgys. Duyan Kabau and Lanao Dakulah.

“Kung makikita mo talagang area ng MNLF ‘yan, area ng MNLF na pinapasyalan ng Abu Sayyaf, actually hindi kontrolado ng Armed Forces yan, pulis lang ang nakakapasok diyan kung minsan,” he said.

The area is near Mt. Taran, where Abu Sayyaf gunmen held captive Filipina Mary-Jean Lacaba, Swiss national Andreas Notter, and Italian Eugenio Vagni, who were abducted in Jolo after inspecting water and sanitation facilities for the ICRC, Latag said.

Burgos said the military is now asking members of the slain militants’ families to let them see the bodies for “identification procedures,” including DNA testing.

Malaysian authorities are also getting in touch with the AFP to recover the body of Marwan, whose mother reportedly requested for her son’s remains to be returned to their home in Muar, Johor, the military spokesman added. (John Roson)

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