ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Aug) Government soldiers raided a hideout of the militant group Abu Sayyaf and killed one of its a sub-leader in the southern Filipino island of Basilan, officials said on Wednesday.
Officials said the soldiers killed Otong Linungan, who was included in the military's order of battle. There were no reports of military casualties.
"The slain terrorist was one of the most notorious in Basilan. Troops are still tracking down other members of the Abu Sayyaf group in the hinterlands," said Army Brig. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of military forces on the island, about 15 miles south of here.
Ferrer said the fighting erupted near the village of Masola in the outskirts of Isabela City. The clashed broke out after civilian informants reported the presence of the Abu Sayyaf band in the village.
"Civilians provided us valuable intelligence that led troops to Linungan's hideout. We continue to receive information from citizens about the Abu Sayyaf or their supporters. The people are fed up with the Abu Sayyaf and they want peace in Basilan," he told The Mindanao Examiner.
Security forces in neighboring Jolo island were also pursuing leaders of the Abu Sayyaf and two Jemaah Islamiya militants Umar Patek and Dulmatin, tagged as behind the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia that killed more than 200 people.
Troops had seized some 6,000 blasting caps and recovered 10 sacks of ammonium nitrate used by the Abu Sayyaf in the manufacture of homemade explosives in Jolo.
Officials said a man, Mujahiri Malik, who was allegedly transporting the explosives, was arrested, but his companion, a woman, had escaped and is being hunted by security forces on Jolo island.
"We suspect these explosives belonged to the Abu Sayyaf. We smell terrorism here," said Army Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, commander of security forces in Jolo.
Aleo said the blasting caps were similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in previous bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga City. "They are similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in the past; the bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga. They also have the same markings and all made in India," he said.
He said troops were tracking down Dulmatin and Umar Patek believed to be with the group of Khadaffy Janjalani, the Abu Sayyaf chieftain.
Washington has offered as much as $10 million bounty for Dulmatin and $1 million for Patek's capture and another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also put up P100 million rewards for the capture of the group's leaders and their members dead or alive.
Officials said the soldiers killed Otong Linungan, who was included in the military's order of battle. There were no reports of military casualties.
"The slain terrorist was one of the most notorious in Basilan. Troops are still tracking down other members of the Abu Sayyaf group in the hinterlands," said Army Brig. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of military forces on the island, about 15 miles south of here.
Ferrer said the fighting erupted near the village of Masola in the outskirts of Isabela City. The clashed broke out after civilian informants reported the presence of the Abu Sayyaf band in the village.
"Civilians provided us valuable intelligence that led troops to Linungan's hideout. We continue to receive information from citizens about the Abu Sayyaf or their supporters. The people are fed up with the Abu Sayyaf and they want peace in Basilan," he told The Mindanao Examiner.
Security forces in neighboring Jolo island were also pursuing leaders of the Abu Sayyaf and two Jemaah Islamiya militants Umar Patek and Dulmatin, tagged as behind the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia that killed more than 200 people.
Troops had seized some 6,000 blasting caps and recovered 10 sacks of ammonium nitrate used by the Abu Sayyaf in the manufacture of homemade explosives in Jolo.
Officials said a man, Mujahiri Malik, who was allegedly transporting the explosives, was arrested, but his companion, a woman, had escaped and is being hunted by security forces on Jolo island.
"We suspect these explosives belonged to the Abu Sayyaf. We smell terrorism here," said Army Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, commander of security forces in Jolo.
Aleo said the blasting caps were similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in previous bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga City. "They are similar to what the Abu Sayyaf had used in the past; the bombings in Jolo and Zamboanga. They also have the same markings and all made in India," he said.
He said troops were tracking down Dulmatin and Umar Patek believed to be with the group of Khadaffy Janjalani, the Abu Sayyaf chieftain.
Washington has offered as much as $10 million bounty for Dulmatin and $1 million for Patek's capture and another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Khadaffy Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also put up P100 million rewards for the capture of the group's leaders and their members dead or alive.
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