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| Southeast Asia |
| PI armed forces expand Abu search |
| 2002-07-08 |
| The military has expanded its search for remnants of the Abu Sayyaf from the hinterlands to the residential areas in Basilan. Col. Alexander Aleo said his troops are now scouring residential areas to check on the presence of Abu Sayyaf members who may be seeking refuge in relatives’ houses. "Mom! They're after me! Y'gotta hide me!" He said the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf led by Khadaffy Janjalani has splintered into smaller groups and had gone into hiding owing to the relentless military offensive against them. Janjalani and Abu Sulayman, said to be the Abu Sayyaf treasurer, and several other followers have reportedly sought refuge in the hinterlands of Patikul in Sulu, the stronghold of one-armed Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. The other Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leaders, operations officer Isnilon Hapilon, Hamsiraji Sali, and other members are still in Basilan province. Sali and Hapilon are from Basilan and their families are there. Now's the time for the PI troops to physically wipe these goobers out — they're on the run, and they're friendless, since everyone's convinced they're going down and no one wants to go down with them. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |