[Gulf Today] Philippine commandos killed an Abu Sayyaf leader linked to the kidnapping of Malaysian nationals from Sabah in a clash on the island province of Tawi-Tawi. The clash happened on Friday in a remote village in the town of Sitangkai while elite Navy commandos were conducting operations against the Abu Sayyaf.Navy Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad identified the Abu Sayyaf leader killed as a certain Said allegedly involved in the kidnap-for-ransom of Malaysian nationals from Sabah including the beheaded Then. Trinidad said Said and his comrades were also involved in the kidnapping of 21 tourists in Sipadan, Sabah in 2001, who were brought to Sulu in Mindanao before being released in batches after payment of huge ransoms.
In a related development, President Benigno Aquino apologized for the beheading of a Malaysian citizen as he ordered the military to step up its ongoing operations against the Abu Sayyaf and arrest the murderers. Aquino issued the apology in Kuala Lumpur to attend the annual summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations where the war on terror was one of the major topics on its agenda.Meanwhile, police announced the arrest of another Abu Sayyaf leader, identified as a Mhadie Umangkat Sahirin wanted on charges of murder and frustrated muder. Sahirin was nabbed on Friday while walking in a village in Zamboanga City where he fled following the filing before the regional courts separate charges of carnapping and bombings.