 Government forces killed a brother of a top Abu Sayyaf leader in a clash with his group in the village of Asturias, Jolo, on Friday, officials said. Jolo’s military chief, Brig. Gen. Alexander Aleo, said the killing of Lalong Parad dealt a serious blow to the Abu Sayyaf. Parad was said to be the brother of Albader Parad, who is wanted by the United States for the killing of two of its citizens in 2001 and the 2000 kidnapping of 21 mostly Asians and Westerners on Sipadan island off Sabah. "Parad’s death was surely a big blow [to the Abu Sayyaf] because he was one of the most notorious criminals in Jolo wanted for the killing of many innocent civilians and soldiers and the kidnapping this year of three Indonesian sailors," Aleo said. An AFP report said Parad was killed by a policeman, Bas Isad. The AFP account said that Isad had noticed Parad and his cadre three other gunmen staking out his house and confronted them. Parad allegedly drew a pistol, but Isad shot him first, killing him. | "It's the cops, boys! Go for yer [BANG!][Thump] Rosebud!" |
Parad’s companions fled.| Meh. In Thana upazila his posse would have opened random, inaccurate fire before fleeing like schoolgirls, and possibly even caused Isad to get a hernia... |
Police believed Parad and his team were intending to kill Isad, leader of an antidrug task force on Jolo island, the AFP report added.| Nice shot, Hoss. Way to keep your cool. |
On Wednesday government forces stormed an outlaw hideout in the southern port city of Zam-boanga and captured seven people, including Hilarion "Ahmad" Santos, alleged leader of the radical group called Rajah Soliman Movement. The troops recovered a cache of antitank rockets.| "Hey LT, you may want to come over and take a look at this." |
Authorities said the group was behind the spate of bombings in Manila since 2000. They described the Rajah Soliman Movement as the most notorious group next to the Abu Sayyaf. "We have established that Santos and his Rajah Soliman group are linked to the Jemaah Islamiya and the Abu Sayyaf. There is an ongoing operation to track down other members of the group in southern Philippines," said the commander of the military’s Southern Command, Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan. |