[CNN] A notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-leader named Salvador "Badong" Muktadil was killed in a gunbattle with government forces in Sulu, the Philippine military announced on Sunday. His death was the outcome of a counter-operation by Joint Task Force Sulu, conducted from aboard navy vessels in Silangkan, Parang, Sulu.Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez said, "His neutralization was a result of the maximized intelligence operations of our troops and the cooperation and support of the local leaders and folks."
Joint Task Force Sulu commander Cirilito Sobejana said Muktadil was "well-experienced in operating speedboats... as getaway vehicles in executing kidnapping [ploys]. His death rendered high seas kidnappings, particularly in Tawi-Tawi and Sabah, suppressed."
Muktadil was involved in the various abductions between Sabah and Tawi-tawi, including those of Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay; Taiwanese tourist Evelyn Chang; and Yahong Lim, the daughter of a Chinese businesswoman. Apart from kidnappings, Muktadil also holds an arrest warrant for serious illegal detention and nine counts of murder.
"His neutralization, together with the others [who] have been killed in the fighting... the other week, about seven of them, is an additional accomplishment for Western Mindanao Command in degrading the activity of ASG to carry out more abductions," military spokesman Restituto Padilla said on Monday.
Padilla added that there were also reported attempts by the Abu Sayyaf to kidnap locals and "low return targets," which include the poor and vulnerable who cannot pay large ransoms.
"It's an indication that they are in dire straits because they just want to generate enough funds to support themselves," he said.