Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Fighter under new Philippine ISIS leader Sawadjaan arrested in Sulu

From the Manila Bulletin (Apr 17, 2019): Fighter under new Philippine ISIS leader Sawadjaan arrested in Sulu

An Abu Sayyaf fighter under new Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Philippines leader Hajan Sawadjaan was arrested while the body of another suspected terrorist was recovered in the ongoing military offensive in Sulu, the military said Wednesday.

Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said Abu Sayyaf member Aldie Wajid was already turned over to the local police for the filing of criminal charges.

“He is an Abu Sayyaf member under Hajan Sawadjaan. Seized from him were a .45 caliber pistol and two rolls of electric wire,” said Besana.


Sawadjaan, said to be the new ISIS leader in the Philippines, was tagged as the mastermind behind the Jolo Cathedral bombing in December last year that left more than 20 people dead.

Besana said Wajid was collared in Sitio Kan Bading, Barangay Taung, Patikul, Sulu, at 7 a.m. Wednesday by elements of the 32nd Infantry Battalion.

Troops also found the body of a suspected Abu Sayyaf fighter in Sitio Hagas-Hagas, Barangay Pangkayahan, also in Patikul, Sulu, at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

“Troops of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion recovered human remains believed to be of an ASG member slain during the series of encounters on April 11, 2019, in the same barangay,” said Besana.

“Our troops immediately buried the recovered dead body since it is already in the state of decomposition,” he added.

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