SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 20, 2008) – Government soldiers captured an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader ahead of President Gloria Arroyo's visit to Sulu province.
Col. Eugenio Clemen, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade, said they are interrogating Almid Jundam, a notorious member of the Abu Sayyaf's urban terrorist group, who was behind the planting of a homemade bomb at the Sulu airport runway on Saturday.
"Initial inquest revealed that he is responsible in setting up an improvised explosive device in Sulu's airport extension on November 15 which was detonated by the Explosive Ordnance Detachment Team," Clemen said.
Jundam was captured in Jolo on Tuesday while about to withdraw money from a bank. A wig and a camouflage jacket were recovered from Jundam's bag.
Clemen said civilian informers tipped off the military about the presence of Jundam in Jolo. Jundam admitted during interrogation that he planted the bomb at the airport runway and was also behind a foiled bombing of the Catholic Church in the town.
Jundam was also implicated in the fatal shooting of Khomeini Sawadjaan, 23, and Ubay Damsik, 60, last month in the village of Alat in Indanan town.
Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces in Sulu, said the operation against the Abu Sayyaf is ongoing. "We uphold the people's steadfast stance against the employment of illegal and deadly explosives as one of the acts of terrorism."
"We greatly appreciate the support of the people, who share the same vision - a peaceful atmosphere more conducive for development. This accomplishment indicates the trust and confidence bestowed to us by the peace-loving people of Sulu. The Abu Sayyaf's complete downfall is imperative for our people to fully enjoy their rights to lasting peace," he said.
Jundam's arrest coincided also with the Abu Sayyaf ambush of a Filipino and US military convoy in Indanan town. There were no reports of casualties from the military side, but one militant was wounded in the exchange of gunfire, according to a report by the local ABS-CBN television network, quoting, Clemen.
The soldiers were on their way to inspect an infrastructure project when they were ambushed, it said. Sabban has denied the report. "That's not true. It did not happen," he said.
In August, Abu Sayyaf militants also ambushed a Philippine and US military convoy in Sulu, killing four Filipino soldiers and wounded ten more in the village of Bonbon in Patikul town.
American troops are training and assisting local soldiers in defeating terrorism in the southern Philippines on the request of the Philippine government. They are also active in humanitarian missions.
Earlier this month, Filipino soldiers also captured an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Sakirin Andalan Sali and killed another militant, Faidar Hadjadi, in a firefight in Sulu.
President Gloria Arroyo is expected to visit Sulu province where the influential Bishops-Ulama Conference begin its three-day general assembly.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan has invited the President to grace the historic gathering sponsored by the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo headed by Bishop Angelito Lampon.
The co-conveners of the Bishops-Ulama Conference are Davao City Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Protestant Bishop Hilario Gomez and Ulama League of the Philippines representative Dr. Hamid Barra. (Mindanao Examiner)
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