Abu Sayyaf prepares for showdown with gov’t forces

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 13): Abu Sayyaf prepares for showdown with gov’t forces

Seven radical leaders  of the Abu Sayyaf Group  (ASG), backed up by 245  fully armed followers, are now reportedly consolidating their forces in  Patikul, Sulu to match the forces of the government which have been hunting them down to secure the  safe release of four foreigners and two Filipinos.

A military report here indicated that seven Patikul, Sulu-based ASGs have consolidated their forces and have been holding camp at the forested areas of Sito Tobeg Angelan, Barangay Darayan in a bid to repel the surgical-strikes launched by the military against the bandit groups.

The group is holding  captive John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, both Canadian; Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites “Tess” Flor  who they kidnapped at Samal  Island  off Davao City; Dutchman Ewold Horn and Filipino-Chinese  Yahong Lim Tan,  their victims in other kidnapping forays.

The report said that  the group of ASG senior leader Radulan Sahiron  with his 45 fully-armed followers, was anointed as overall  leader  assisted by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who has 85 combatants with him.

Hairula Asbang, with 37 members; Asaral Sali and 11 of his men; Allung Abtahe with 12 members; Latip Ladja with15 members; and Muamar Askali with 40 members complete the consolidated ASG.

It was also reported that Sawajaan  is financing the group with his group’s kidnapping operations and now enjoys the high respect of the ASG circle of leaders.

Last Wednesday, another group of Abu Sayyaf bandits, led by Julhajan Aksan alias Halimaw and Mujakal Bagade with more or less 50 fully armed followers, was seen by the locals at Sitio Minul, Barangay Bud Taran in  Indanan, Sulu.

The locals reported that the  group stayed at the  village for about four days and their food provisions came from Sitio Kanpakasa, Barangay  Langpas  in the same town.

It was also reported that each of the members of the said group received P150,000 while the two sub leaders allegedly received P500,000 as  their respective shares in the ransom money  paid them by the family of Chinese-Malaysian trader Thien Nyuk Fun.

The Chinese-Malaysian national,  owner of  Ocean King  Restaurant in Sandakan,  Malaysia,  was  released at  about 10 p.m. November 8  at  Sitio Pakasah, Barangay Bud Taran in Indanan, Sulu, after her family reportedly paid P30 million in ransom to the ASG.

http://www.mb.com.ph/abu-sayyaf-prepares-for-showdown-with-govt-forces/