A leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group and one of his aides were killed during a clash Sunday between the bandits and soldiers in Tuburan, Basilan, the military said.
Captain Roy Trinidad, spokesman of Joint Task Force Zambasulta (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi), identified the slain bandits as Abdul Hasan Yusop Sanajalun, who also went by the aliases Bullet, Rhey Cuebas Santos, Arjan Y. Sapii, and Abdulhasaan Tannajul, and his aide as Halid Calbie.
Trinidad said three soldiers were also wounded in the encounter, which took place at 4 a.m.
A report from Lt. Sally Magno said military agents earlier pinpointed the hideout of Sanajalun, but when arresting troops arrived in the area, they were ambushed by bandits in Campo Dos, Barangay Colonia, Lamitan City.
Three troopers were immediately wounded, but the soldiers engaged the bandits in a 30-minute gun battle, resulting in the killing of Sanajalun and his aide.
Recovered from the scene were an M-653 assault rifle, a .45 cal. pistol, several improvised explosive devices, hand grenades, an air gun, magazines with live ammunition, cellular phones and personal belongings including pictures, PhilHealth cards and school identification cards.
Sanajalun had outstanding warrants for his arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention with ransom issued by a court in Zamboanga City.
“Bullet’s group was notorious for extortion and intimidation activities. They also used IEDs to bomb their targets. Based on our records, this group was responsible for the kidnapping of three employees of a construction firm in Barangay Cadayan, Akbar sometime in January,” Trinidad said.