Government security forces rescued a Chinese hostage and killed five kidnappers belonging to the Abu Sayyaf on Thursday in a raid on the terrorist group's newly established training camp in Zamboanga City.Yuan-Kai Lin, an executive for a mining firm, was rescued safely, while five of his abductors were killed and one was captured.
Those killed were identified as Termije Ajijul and his wife Sitti Raja Salvin, Abu Ulm, Arab-Arab and Banah-Banah. Sambri Aslon Kamlon alias Abu Ziad, on the other hand, was taken into custody by the Philippine National Police-Western Mindanao Command.
The group's leader, Khair Mundos, was shot and seriously injured but escaped. Mundos is a key leader and financier of the Abu Sayyaf. The United States Department of Justice is offering $500,000 for information leading to his arrest.
He was captured in 2004, but he escaped from jail in 2007. While in custody, he confessed to arranging funding for terrorist bombings throughout Mindanao.
Before the raid of the Abu Sayyaf camp, authorities received information that the Abu Sayyaf recently set up a training camp in a secluded Sitio Porlos in Barangay Calabasa, Zamboanga City. Initial reports revealed that the camp was also being used by Mundos' group in keeping hostages, training grounds and safe havens of other Abu Sayyaf comrades from Basilan and Sulu provinces.