Top ASG chiefs escape AFP drive

From Malaya (Apr 17): Top ASG chiefs escape AFP drive

TWO Abu Sayyaf leaders, including one on the FBI’s list of most-wanted terrorists, escaped Monday’s military offensive that killed eight militants and led to the seizure of their jungle lair and bomb materials in Basilan, Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, said yesterday.

The assault by more than 100 army troops early Monday targeted Abu Sayyaf commanders Isnilon Hapilon and Puruji Indama in the outskirts of Tipo-Tipo town on Basilan, but the two managed to escape and were still being hunted by government forces, said Galvez.

At least three soldiers were wounded in the main assault and two separate gun battles afterward with about 30 Abu Sayyaf gunmen. Troops captured the militants’ lair, where they found bomb-making materials and equipment, along with sniper rifle parts, Galvez said.

The bodies of two of the gunmen were recovered by troops, he said.

Washington has offered a $5 million reward for the capture or killing of Hapilon who has been accused of involvement in deadly bomb attacks, kidnappings and beheadings, including of Americans in the past, landing him on the list of the FBI’s most-wanted terrorists.

Indama has been wanted by Philippine authorities for his alleged involvement in deadly bombings and kidnappings of several people, including a former Australian soldier who was freed last month after 15 months of jungle captivity after ransom was paid.

Indama has been blamed for the 2007 beheadings of 10 Marines in Basilan, a widely condemned atrocity that prompted a major military offensive against the militants.

Galvez said Hapilon and Indama are also accused of trying to sabotage infrastructure projects, including the construction of a road and a power barge, and of trying to extort money from several business firms.

“Both their signatures appeared on the extortion letters,” he said.

Galvez also said the bodies of the two slain Abu Sayyaf men were retrieved during clearing operations after the fighting and have been turned over to relatives.

Galvez did not identify the two but a military report named them as Abu Digod and Buga Teddy.

Six more Abu Sayyaf men are believed to have been killed in the fighting at the lair of the terrorists Silangkum village.

Galvez said a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf was among those believed to have been killed. He declined to name the sub-leader, saying they are still in the process of validating the report.

The military report said the operation was mounted by forces of the Joint Special Operations Group, 3rd Light Reaction Company of the 1st Light Reaction Battalion, and 11th Scout Ranger Company of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion.

Three soldiers were wounded in the operation.

Galvez said at least six more Abu Sayyaf bandits are believed injured in the operation, based on information gathered. Among them is Hapilon who was grazed by a bullet in the head.

Galvez also said that two members of the Southeast Asian regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah are believed to be with the Abu Sayyaf in the assaulted lair. Earlier reports said several JI men are in the country.

He said they got prior information that the two JI men, identified as Malaysian Amin Baco and one Imram, were in the Abu Sayyaf camp.

However, he could not categorically say if the two JI men were in the camp at the time of the fighting or if they helped the Abu Sayyaf in the skirmishes.

The attack took place near a community-like encampment of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the largest Muslim rebel group in the country with which the government has been negotiating a peace accord for years.

The Moro rebels said they were the ones attacked by Army troops, adding the assault violated a years-long truce and may have been aimed at undermining their Malaysian-brokered peace negotiations with the Philippine government.

Galvez denied troops attacked the MILF camp, which is some 300 meters from the Abu Sayyaf encampment that they targeted. Abu Sayyaf gunmen have deliberately encamped there, thinking they would be backed by the Moro rebels in case of fighting with troops, he said.

The MILF rebels, however, did not help the Abu Sayyaf in Monday’s clashes, Galvez said.

The Abu Sayyaf, which was founded in early 1990s on the predominantly Muslim province of Basilan, has been blacklisted by Washington as a terrorist organization for deadly terror attacks and kidnappings for ransom.

US-backed offensives have killed or captured many of its commanders in recent years, leaving the group without an overall leader to unify its factions on Basilan, nearby Jolo island and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Abu Sayyaf, however, has survived with about 350 armed fighters, mainly through kidnappings for ransom and extortion and remains a security threat in the south.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/28981-top-asg-chiefs-escape-afp-drive