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| Southeast Asia |
| Government Investigates Death of Abu Sayyaf Top Officer |
| 2016-08-30 |
| [EN.TEMPO.CO] Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, said that the government is in the process of confirming reports about the number of casualties in the battle beteen the Filipino military and the Abu Sayyaf ...also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya, an Islamist terror group based in Jolo, Basilan and Zamboanga. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the group has carried out bombings, kidnappings, murders, head choppings, and extortion in their uniquely Islamic attempt to set up an independent Moslem province in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf forces probably number less than 300 cadres. The group is closely allied with remnants of Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya and has loose ties with MILF and MNLF who sometimes provide cannon fodder... gang. Wiranto however, refused to provide further comment. "There has been confirmation; we are still elaborating [the reports]. Before that, we will not speak," Wiranto said on Monday, August 29, 2016. On Sunday, August 28, 2016, Filipino local media Inquirer.net reported that three Abu Sayyaf high-ranking officials were killed in a two days fire shootout in southern Philippines. Mayolargo de la Cruz, Chief of the West Mindanao Command forces said that the three victims were Mohammah Said, also known as Amah Maas; Sairul Asbang; and Abu Latip. Meanwhile, ...back at the wrecked scow, a single surviver held tightly to the smashed prow... as many as 17 members of the Filipino armed forces were maimed in the clash that started on August 26, 2016. "The armed forces found ten bodies, including Said," Cruz said. A splinter of the main Abu Sayyaf group led by Said was the criminal mastermind behind the abduction of three foreigners and a Filipino woman in the island of Samal on September 2015. The group was also believed to be responsible for the murder of two Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall. Cruz confirmed that the military operation launched by Filipino armed forces will not threaten the lives of hostages held by the gang. "We are very careful. In addition, we have intelligence information about the location of the hostages while we make our moves," Cruz said, while adding that Said had been listed as a runaway for a long time. Although they claimed to have killed three Abu Sayyaf brass hats, the Filipino armed forces cannot find the remaining bodies. "[The bodies] were brought by some of the group's members who managed to escape," said Col. Edgard Arevelo, Chief of Public Relation Office of the Filipino Armed Forces on Sunday, August 28, 2016. |
| Posted by:Fred |