Philippine troops hunting down the combined Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terrorists in the hinterlands of Sulu were ordered "to neutralize high-value targets before Christmas." Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. issued the order during his visit to the troops on Friday and Saturday here and in Sulu. Before Christmas? So, um, were they slacking off up til now?Â
He didn't say which Christmas.
Combined Army and Marine forces have been hunting down the terrorists since August in Sulu hinterlands dubbed as Operations Plan Ultimatum. Esperon wants to get first hand updates on the ongoing offensive against the terrorists. High-value targets refer to JI terrorists namely Aman Bin Usman alias Dulmatin, Umar Patek and a certain Manobo and top al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf leaders Khadafy Janjalani, Isnilon Hapilon, Jainal Antel Salih Alias Abu Solaiman and Radulan Sahiron. Dulmatin, Patek and Manobo have fled to the country via the southern backdoor in April 2003 following the arrest of their companions in Indonesia. Dulmatin and Patek were tagged as the masterminds in the bombing of Bali resort in Indonesia in 2002 that killed 202 people mostly tourists.
Esperon issued the order so that the soldiers could spend the Christmas holidays together with their families once the high-value targets are neutralized. The offensive was launched after it was discovered that some 200 Abu Sayyafs together with JI terrorists were seen converging in the hinterlands of Sulu province. Series of skirmishes have taken place since the start of the offensive with the terrorists suffering heavy casualties. The leaders however managed to escape.
Troops were sent to nearby island province of Basilan following reports that Hapilon and his close aides have fled to the island in a bid to escape from pursuing military troops in Sulu. On midnight of Friday, government troops have captured a wanted Abu Sayyaf in Barangay Colonia, Lamitan, Basilan province. Major Eugenio Batara, Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) information officer, said Annik Abbas alias Abu Annik was driving a motorcycle when intercepted by soldiers. Annik, who escaped from Basilan provincial jail in 2004, was arrested with the help of an informant who sighted him in the area.
An alleged leader of the Abu Sayyaf's Urban Terrorist Group (UTG) was killed in a firefight with policemen late Thursday in Barangay Ayala, this city. Two others were captured during the firefight. UTG is Abu Sayyaf's group of hit men tasked to carry out liquidations in urban centers of the region. (PNA)