ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 28 Feb) – The Philippine military on Wednesday denied published reports that a senior Abu Sayyaf leader was killed in a firefight in the southern island of Jolo.
Philippine media reported that Albader Parad was killed during a firefight with troops in Jolo’s hinterlands. The report was attributed to Army Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, commander of the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City.
Cedo denied confirming Parad’s death, but admitted they have unverified intelligence reports that the terror leader was injured in the fighting and may have died from his wounds.
“We are not confirming Parad’s death, but we are trying to verify the reports,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.
Troops have earlier killed the chieftain of the Abu Sayyaf, Khadaffy Janjalani and his lieutenant Jainal Antel Sali, in separate clashes in Jolo island.
Philippine forces, backed by U.S. military intelligence, were battling the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya on the island. Washington blacklisted both groups and offered as much as ten million dollars bounty for the capture of Jemaah Islamiya bomber Dulmatin, who is hiding in Jolo with Umar Patek.
Jakarta linked the duo to the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.
Authorities said more than 80 Jemaah Islamiya militants are hiding on the island. (Mindanao Examiner)
No comments:
Post a Comment