Former Muslim rebels, who signed a peace deal with Manila , killed at least 4 Abu Sayyaf militants – tagged in
the kidnappings of Indonesian sailors – in fierce clashes Tuesday in the
southern Philippine province
of Sulu
Officials said among those killed were a lieutenant of Abu
Sayyaf leader Alhabsy Misaya, whose group was tagged by the military as behind
the spate of ransom kidnappings in Sabah ,
Malaysia
The fighting erupted in the town called Kalingalan Caluang
where the Abu Sayyaf was believed holding several Indonesian hostages, but
there were no reports whether any of the captives had been rescued or killed
during the clashes in Tanjung village between the ISIS-affiliate militants and
the larger Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under Nur Misuari.
It was unknown what triggered the fighting or whether the
MNLF launched an operation to rescue the hostages.
Security officials said the four slain militants, including
their automatic weapons, had been recovered by the MNLF fighters headed by
commanders Taib Sahibad, Alih Kipli and Abraham Joel.
There have been no reports of casualties on the side of the
MNLF, which signed a peace deal with the government in September 1996.
One of those killed by the MNLF forces had been identified
by the military as Jennor Lahab, alias Commander Jim Dragon, and probably his
son. Lahab was reported to be one of the aides of Misaya, a notorious militant
leader.
Misaya was a former MNLF member, but had split with the
group and joined the Abu Sayyaf several years ago after Misuari reportedly
ordered his execution, according to military intelligence reports.
The MNLF has previously negotiated with another Abu Sayyaf
faction for the safe release of kidnapped Indonesian sailors in Sulu just this
year.
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/4-sayyaf-men-killed-in-mnlf-clashes/
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