ASG member killed in Tawi-Tawi encounter

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 20): ASG member killed in Tawi-Tawi encounter

Government security forces killed a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in the kidnapping of a Chinese national in Sabah, Malaysia, Capt. Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesman for the Joint Task Force Zambasulta, said.

The encounter took place at around 10:00 a.m. yesterday, November 19, in Sitio Baligtang Asibi, Barangay Sipangkot, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi province. He identified the slain ASG bandit as the one with the alias “Said.”

Trinidad said that Said’s death resulted in the counter operations conducted by troops from the Joint Task Group (JTG) Tawi-Tawi and JTF Zambasulta under Capt. Harry John Delgado, together with the Tawi-Tawi police provincial office, the Special Maritime Operations Team, and the 52nd Company Special Action Force (SAF).

No further details of the encounter were provided by the military.

According to Trinidad, Said belongs to the group of ASG sub-leaders Idang Susukan and Alhabsy Misaya which operates in Tawi-Tawi, Sabah and Malaysia, together with the notorious Muktadil brothers’ gang.

The Muktadil brothers is believed to be behind several kidnappings in Sabah’s porous east coast, and are part of a kidnap-for-ransom group based in Tawi-Tawi.

Trinidad said the slain ASG member was involved in the abduction of a Chinese national identified as Zailin in Labawan Hadji, Singga Mata, Sampurnah, Sabah last May 2014; the kidnapping of Precillano Garcia, the finance officer of West Mindanao Mining Company at Beach Side Inn, Barangay Simandagit, Bongao Tawi-Tawi; ditto the kidnapping incident in Sipadan, Sabah; and the attempted kidnapping of Wilbin Carpio Lim, owner of the Champion store in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

He had warrants of arrest for frustrated murder and attempted kidnapping.

Meanwhile, government forces arrested an ASG leader, identified as Mhadie Umangkat Sahirin alias “Madie” while walking in Barangay Tubungan, Zamboanga City at 11:40 a.m. yesterday.

“Madie is wanted by authorities for murder and frustrated murder,” the military said. He has a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Danilo Bucoy, 9th Judicial Court of Basilan for the murder of civilians and frustrated murder of soldiers in Sumisip, Basilan.

“He is the leader of lawless elements based in Sapah Bulak, Sumisip, Basilan with more or less than 20 followers,” said Trinidad.

He has also participated in the ambush of government forces along Basilan Circumferential Road using an improvised bomb and is likewise responsible for a series of car-napping operations, IED bombings, and burning of government construction equipment in the province.

http://www.mb.com.ph/asg-member-killed-in-encounter-in-tawi-tawi/