Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon wounded in Basilan clash - Army

From InterAksyon (Apr 16): Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon wounded in Basilan clash - Army

Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon was slightly wounded when elite Army troops assaulted a camp occupied by 30 fighters of the extremist group in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan Monday, the military said.

Colonel Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army's 104th Brigade, said Hapilon sustained a "slight wound" to the head during clashes in Barangay Silangkum that the military said killed up to eight Abu Sayyaf fighters, although only two bodies were recovered.

At least six others, including Hapilon and a nephew of his, were wounded, Galvez said.

Hapilon is the subject of several arrest warrants for murder, kidnapping and frustrated murder, among others.

He and his men have been tagged in the April 5, 1994 attack on Ipilo town, the attack on the Golden Harvest Plantation in Lantawan, Basilan in which they killed a number of the more than 50 civilians they took hostage, and the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnappings.

On March 23, Hapilon’s band released Australian kidnap victim Warren Richard Rodwell, who had been in captivity for more than a year.

Galvez said Monday’s operation was prompted by complaints from Basilan officials about Abu Sayyaf extortion.

"They were being being pestered by the Abu Sayyaf. There were several incidents of kidnapping, extortion, and the politicians are complaining already," Galvez said.

Hapilon’s group was also reportedly extorting P1 million from contractors building the Basilan Circumferential Road.

 Galvez said military operations against Hapilon’s group are continuing.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/59545/abu-sayyaf-commander-isnilon-hapilon-wounded-in-basilan-clash---army