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Southeast Asia

Two suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels killed by army

2009-02-11

(AKI) - Government troops on Monday killed two Muslim militants in the southern Philippines suspected of belonging to the Al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf militant group. The clash occurred in Akbar, in Basilan province, when troops encountered militants while searching for three kidnapped aid workers and a nine-year-old boy allegedly being held by Abu Sayyaf. Five marines were wounded on Monday in clashes on the southern island of Jolo, where the Filipino authorities believe the hostages are being held captive. The three Red Cross workers, Italian citizen Eugenio Vagni, Swiss national Andreas Notter and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba were abducted on the island last month after visiting a local prison. The firefight on Jolo began when Abu Sayyaf bandits fired at soldiers in the village of Barangay, the Philippines army public information chief, Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said in a statement, quoted by GMA News. Troops are putting mounting pressure on the kidnappers to release the Red Cross workers. Media reports gave no information about the nine-year-old boy. Sixteen of surrounding Sulu province's 19 mayors have signed a pledge to help secure the hostages' release, GMA News said. They also condemned "in the strongest terms" the actions of Abu Sayyaf and other militant groups operating in the region. Abu Sayyaf, which means "bearer of the sword" is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States. Filipino authorities have linked the group to a spate of kidnappings and killings in Sulu and Basilan provinces. Abu Sayyaf has reportedly demanded a ransom of up to 10 million dollars for the release of the Red Cross workers, who were kidnapped on 15 January.

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Southeast Asia

Suspected JI, Sayyaf holy man in AFP custody

2008-03-25

The Philippine Army officially admitted Monday that a Muslim cleric arrested in the island resort of Boracay in Aklan early this month, is currently under its custody. But Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres Jr., Army spokesman, belied reports that Muhammad Bani, 27, has been subjected to torture by his Army and police captors, as claimed by his family. He probably wasn't. I wouldn't care in the least if he was. Torres said that Bani’s arrest was a legitimate operation covered by an arrest warrant duly issued by the court. Bani, a Muslim cleric, and a friend Al-Midzbar Bunajal, 24, were arrested by a composite team from the Army Intelligence and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Boracay on March 8. Their arrest stemmed from persistent intelligence reports on the reported presence of Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the world-famed island resort. But upon verifications Bunajal was released from Army custody two days later while Bani was subsequently detained at the Intelligence Service Group (ISG) at Fort Bonifacio. "Bani was detained because it was verified that he has a pending warrant for kidnapping charges filed before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court," Torres said. He did not say however, if Bani and Bunajal were in Bora­cay to conduct terrorist attacks on foreign and local tourists flocking the famous island resort. The military has linked Bani to the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnapping staged by the homegrown terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. Bani’s brother Mahid claimed that he (Bani) showed signs of torture when they visited him at the detention facility of the ISG on March 17.

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Southeast Asia

3 suspects killed, 3 others captured following Philippine Congress blast

2007-11-15

MANILA, (Xinhua) -- Three rebel Abu Sayyaf members suspected to be involved in Tuesday's blast at the Philippine Congress complex were killed and three others captured during a joint raid Thursday afternoon in a depressed community in the country's capital region, said the police. The explosion took place Tuesday night while congressmen were going out of the House after the session adjournment, claiming four lives including a lawmaker from the southern Philippines. "There are indications that this group has involvement in the blast," said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres after the raid staged by elements of the Army and the police of the Philippines. The joint team swooped down on a safe house in the community at around 4:20 p.m. local time (0820 GMT), ensuing a five-minute exchange of gunfires, Torres told reporters. When asked what are the indications that the suspects were indeed involved in the bombing on Tuesday night, Torres said, "I cannot ascertain. That is the report that reached me. They are suspected Abu Sayyaf Group members and the reason for the raid is somewhat related to the investigation on the blast." "They are suspects (in the blast). The initial report that we received is that there are indications that they have something to do with the blast," he said. On Wednesday, a leader of Abu Sayyaf Group, by the name of Kumander Noth Mudalam, denied that the group was responsible for the explosion. "We are not responsible for the bombing in Congress," said the Abu Sayyaf commander in Basilan, South Philippines.

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