Sayyaf fighter killed, 2 soldiers wounded in fresh fighting in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Fighting erupted Thursday between pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf and army soldiers in Sulu province in southern Philippines, the military said.

 

It said the clash erupted in Panglayahan village in Patikul town after soldiers ran into a group of Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron. The fighting lasted 40 minutes. “The encounter resulted in one enemy killed and slightly wounding of two soldiers. Engaged troops are on hot pursuit of the fleeing enemy,” it said in a statement.

 

Just early this week, soldiers also clashed in Patikul's Bangkal village and killing 2 militants, one of them Barak Ingog, helped faciliate twin suicide attacks by an Indonesian ISIS couple on a Catholic church in the capital town of Jolo in January this year that killed and wounded dozens of people, mostly civilians and soldiers.

 

The other slain gunman, Nasser Sawadjaan, was a nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Hajan Sawadajaan. Security forces mounted massive operations in Sulu since early this year as part of President Duterte's order to the military to destroy the Abu Sayyaf, whose leaders pledged allegiance with ISIS. 

 

The operations had resulted in the recovery of 2 Indonesian and a Malaysian fishermen held by the Abu Sayyaf on Simisa Island off Sulu. However, two of the hostages, Malaysian Jari Abdullah, eventually died in hospital in Zamboanga City from a gunshot wound, and Hariadin drowned while escaping the fighting between troops and militants.

 

Sulu Governor Toto Tan deployed social workers and dispatched food aid to assist villagers who were affected by the military campaign. (The Zamboanga Post) 

 

 

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Troops recover bodies of slain Sayyaf fighter

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops pursuing Abu Sayyaf militants on the southern island of Simisa off Sulu province have recovered 3 bodies of suspected gunmen killed in fighting as security forces combed Sunday forested areas where the terrorist group is hiding, the military said.

It said soldiers also recovered two rifles and ammunition in the area where the bodies had been found. They also destroyed a boat being used by the Abu Sayyaf in the mangrove areas of Simisa Island.

There was no report of fresh fighting on the island, but the military deployed a huge number of soldiers in Simisa to “seek and destroy” the terrorists blamed for cross-border ransom kidnappings off Sabah in Malaysia.

Government forces on the island had rescued an Indonesian Heri Ardiansyah, 19, and a Malaysian fishermen Jari Abdullah, 24, - held captive since last year by the Abu Sayyaf - but another Indonesian fisherman, Hariadin, 45, drowned while escaping from the fighting between soldiers and militants.

The trio was kidnapped in December by the Abu Sayyaf and brought them by boat on Simisa Island.
The rescued Indonesian and Malaysian fishermen and the body of Hariadin were brought to the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City.

While the hunt for militants continue on the island, recent fighting on Sulu’s Patikul town had killed 3 soldiers and wounded over a dozen more after the army clashed with at least 50 militants led by Hajan Sawadjaan. The operation is still on going in the town’s hinterlands where the Abu Sayyaf fighters broke into smaller groups. The town is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. (The Zamboanga Post)

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Sayyaf Indon hostage dies, compatriot rescued by Filipino troops

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Indonesian hostage by the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf had died while his compatriot was rescued by Filipino soldiers during a firefight with militants on Simisa Island, about 30 nautical miles from the southern province of Sulu, officials said Saturday.

Officials said the 45-year Hariadin drowned while escaping from the fighting and his companion Heri Ardiansyah, 19, was recovered by soldiers. The duo along with Malaysian fisherman Jari Abdullah, 24, were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in December off Sabah and brought them to the forested island where security forces had been pursuing them since last month.

Abdullah was also recovered by soldiers on April 4 on the island following a firefight between security forces and militants.

“Troops from the Philippine Marine Ready Fleet Sulu rescued Indonesian captives Heri Ardiansyah and Hariadin after engaging three Abu Sayyaf militants under Najir Arik. Hariadin, however, died due to drowning.”

“The Joint Task Force Sulu said the engaged militants and the captives tried to swim across the channel towards Bangalao Island to escape from the pursuing troops when they were spotted by the roving sea patrols,” the Western Mindanao Command said.

It said 3 militants were killed by soldiers in the fighting and recovered their bodies and four automatic rifles and a grenade launcher. “The 10-minute gun battle further resulted in the deaths of three Abu Sayyaf militants and the seizure of several high-powered firearms, including two M14 rifles, two M16 rifles, and an M203 Grenade Launcher,” the military said.

The rescued Indonesian fisherman and the body of Hariadin were brought to the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City. Security forces continue with the hunt for militants under Najir Arik on Simisa, according to Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, the regional military commander. “Marine troops constrict Abu Sayyaf’s movement with the all-out offensives launched to pound terrorists on the island,” he said.

While the hunt for militants continue on the island, fierce fighting on Sulu’s Patikul town had killed 3 soldiers and wounded over a dozen more on Friday after the army clashed with at least 50 militants led by Hajan Sawadjaan.

The operation is still on going in the town’s hinterlands where the Abu Sayyaf fighters broke into smaller groups. The town is a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf. (Mindanao Examiner and The Zamboanga Post)

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Abu Sayyaf and Philippine troops clashed, Malaysian hostage shot

SULU – A Malaysian hostage by the Abu Sayyaf was shot and wounded following a firefight between pro-ISIS militants and Filipino soldiers on Simisa Island off the southern province of Sulu.

Soldiers recovered the 24-year old Jari bin Abdullah on Simisa Island where security forces had engaged Abu Sayyaf fighters under Najir Arik in sporadic clashes since last month.

 

A Philippine military photo shows Malaysian national Jari bin Abdullah who was shot on April 4, 2019 following a clash between Abu Sayyaf and security forces on Simisa Island off Sulu province in southern Philippines.

Abdullah was recovered on Thursday afternoon, but the Western Mindanao Command only reported this the next day. In a conflicting report, it claimed Abdullah was retrieved by Marines who were pursuing the Abu Sayyaf gunmen, but the military also said that the hostage was shot by his captors while escaping. It was unclear whether soldiers saw the militants shooting Abdullah.

“Troops from the Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu retrieved Jari Bin Abdullah near the Abu Sayyaf’s route of withdrawal, fifteen minutes after troops engaged the militants under Najir Arik on Simisa Island,” the Western Mindanao Command said in a statement.

And added: “The Joint Task Force Sulu, under Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo, Jr., said Abdullah managed to escape, but he was shot by his captors before he was secured by the troops.”
It also quoted Pabayo as saying: “The act of shooting the kidnap victim is indicative of the Abu Sayyaf’s hopelessness and desperateness as the militants are now surrounded by our pursuing troops.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines in Sulu is now more motivated to hunt down these terrorists.”
The military said Abdullah was airlifted by a helicopter to a military hospital in the capital town of Jolo on the mainland of Sulu.

Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the Abu Sayyaf is still holding several hostages on the forested island and that soldiers were deployed in Simisa to rescue the captives. “Marine troops continue their pursuit and offensives to run down militants and rescue captives on the island. Troops maximize combat and intelligence build-up to track down and close in on evading terrorists, delivering deliberate operations to ensure the safety of kidnap victims on Simisa Island,” he said.

The Abu Sayyaf has previously threatened to execute Abdullah along with two other Indonesian fishermen Heri Ardiansyah, 19, and Hariadin, 45, if their governments or employer fail to pay ransoms running into millions of pesos.

The captors also phoned Abdullah’s wife, Nadin Junianti, in February telling her that no Malaysian authorities or negotiators have contacted them to secure her husband’s release.

The gunmen said that her husband would face difficulties if there was no contact from Malaysia. They also asked her for telephone contacts of Malaysian journalists. The woman has repeatedly appealed to Malaysian authorities to help secure her husband’s release. She said it was the second time the kidnap group had contacted her.

The militants are believed to be holding nearly a dozen captives, mostly foreigners. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah said authorities were working with their Philippine counterparts to secure the release of the hostages who were kidnapped at sea off Sandakan in Sabah on December 5, 2018. (The Zamboanga Post)

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Sayyaf militant in Sabah raids slain in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Filipino troops killed an Abu Sayyaf militant, whose notorious group was believed behind cross-border raids in Malaysia, officials said Sunday.

Officials said Rakib Dahsul was slain in fierce fighting that also wounded Jaber Susukan, brother of Abu Sayyaf leader Idang Susukan, in the hinterlands of Talipao town in Sulu province. There was no report of military casualties in the weekend clashes.

Soldiers managed to recover the body of Dahsul, a follower of militant commander Apoh Mike tagged by Malaysian authorities as behind the spate of ransom kidnappings in Sabah. Troops also retrieved two M16 automatic rifles as military campaign against the pro-ISIS group further intensifies as the Abu Sayyaf has threatened to execute three of its hostages – two Indonesians and a Malaysia fisherman – kidnapped at sea of Sabah in December.

Lt. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, the regional military commander, said the offensives against the terrorist group were meant to debilitate and inflict more casualties on the enemies. “While we are advancing on our campaign, we will sustain our offensives and employ more pressure on the terrorists,” he said.
Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group has pledged allegiance to ISIS, said they will kill the hostages if ransoms are not paid in exchange for their lives, Malaysian media reports said.

It said militants, who spoke in Bahasa Malaysia, released a video clip which showed the Indonesian hostages - believed to be Heri Ardiansyah, 19, and Hariadin, 45 - being guarded by gunmen. The Malaysian hostage, Jari Abdulla, 24, was not with the duo.

The captives, their eyes covered with black cloth and hands tied behind their back, made an emotional appeal for their government to save them. One militant even held a bolo on the neck of Hariadin as he spoke to the camera in forested area.

The video, reports said, surfaced several days after Abu Sayyaf gunmen phoned Jari's wife, Nadin Junianti, saying that no Malaysian authorities or negotiators have contacted them to secure her husband's release.

The gunmen said that her husband would face difficulties if there was no contact from Malaysia. They also asked her for telephone contacts of Malaysian journalists. Nadin has appealed to Malaysian authorities to help secure her husband's release. She said it was second time the kidnap group had contacted her.

Conflicting reports on Abu Sayyaf ransom demands said the militant were asking between P10 million to P100 million. The militants are believed to be holding nearly a dozen captives, mostly foreigners. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah has said that they were working with their Philippines counterparts to secure the hostages' release.

Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad was in the Philippines on Friday and met separately with Filipino leader Rodrigo Duterte and former rebel chieftain Murad Ebrahim, who is now the Chief Minister of the newly-created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

It was unknown whether Mahathir discussed with Duterte and Ebrahim the continued Abu Sayyaf incursions and ransom kidnappings in Sabah or the impending execution of the hostages. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Sayyafs threaten to execute 3 hostages

SULU - Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, have threatened to execute two Indonesian and a Malaysian hostages, being held captive in southern Philippines is ransoms are not paid in exchange for their lives, Malaysian media reports said.

It said militants, who spoke in Bahasa Malaysia, released a video clip which showed the Indonesian hostages - believed to be Heri Ardiansyah, 19, and Hariadin, 45 - being guarded by gunmen. The Malaysian hostage, Jari Abdulla, 24, was not with the duo.

The captives, their eyes covered with black cloth and hands tied behind their back, made an emotional appeal for their government to save them. One militant even held a bolo on the neck of Hariadin as he spoke to the camera in forested area.

The video, reports said, surfaced several days after Abu Sayyaf gunmen phoned Jari's wife, Nadin Junianti, saying that no Malaysian authorities or negotiators have contacted them to secure her husband's release.

The gunmen said that her husband would face difficulties if there was no contact from Malaysia. They also asked her for telephone contacts of Malaysian journalists. Nadin has appealed to Malaysian authorities to help secure her husband's release. She said it was second time the kidnap group had contacted her.

Malaysian media did not say how much ransoms the Abu Sayyaf is demanding for the safe release of the hostages. The militants are believed to be holding nearly a dozen captives, mostly foreigners.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah has said that they were working with their Philippines counterparts to secure the hostages' release. The hostages were kidnapped at sea off Sandakan in Sabah on December 5, 2018. (Mindanao Examiner)

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Sayyafs threaten to execute Indon hostage

SULU – Abu Sayyaf militants have threatened to kill an Indonesian fisherman if Jakarta or his employer ignores their ransom demand in exchange for the safe release of the hostage.

In a video sent by militants to his family, the 40-year old Samsul Sanguni, appealing to his employer to save him. The clip shows Sanguni - both hands tied behind his back - inside a hole in what appears to be a forest and being guarded by heavily armed militants, as he cried and pleaded for help.

Sanguni along with another Indonesian fisherman, Usman Yusuf, were kidnapped at sea near Gaya Island in Sabah’s Semporna town and brought to Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

The 35-year old Yusuf was freed in December in Bual village in the town of Luuk. The release of Yusuf came after the Chief of the Indonesian Consul-General’s Office in Sabah, Sulistijo Djati Ismojo, appealed to Malaysia to resolve the kidnapping of its citizens.

It was unknown whether ransom had been paid to the kidnappers in exchange for Yusuf’s release. In September the Abu Sayyaf had previously released other Indonesian hostages to Nur Misuari, chieftain of the former rebel group Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and his wife Tarhata; and a former Indonesian army general Kivlan Zein.

In September last year, the Abu Sayyaf, whose leaders pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, also released to the MNLF 3 other Indonesian hostages Hamdam Salim, Subandi Sattuh and Sudarlan Samansung, who were kidnapped off Sabah in January.

Despite the anti-terror campaign in Sabah, Abu Sayyaf militants still kidnapped 3 Indonesian fishing crew members off Sabah and had been taken to Sulu, Malaysian media reported.

It said the trio - Heri Ardiansyah, 19; Jari Abdullah, and Hariadin, 45, were working for a fishing company in Sandakan town and had been seized by 7 gunmen on the night of December 5 near Pegasus Reef – an area where four armed men also attacked a tugboat two days later and wounded an Indonesian crew in what police said was a failed abduction.

Sabah police recovered the trawler of the missing Indonesian crewmen with its engine still running. It said, citing intelligence sources, that the gunmen were led by Abu Sayyaf commanders Al Mujir Yadah and Hajan Sawadjaan, who teamed up with another militant commander, Indang Susukan.

The group was tagged as behind the spate of ransom kidnappings in the waters of Sabah and attacks on fishing boats there. The Star Online, quoting unidentified intelligence sources, said three fishermen had been taken by their abductors to Pata Island and later transferred them to Panamao town.

The militants have been targeting Indonesian fishermen because their employers and Jakarta are paying ransoms to the Abu Sayyaf which it uses to purchase weapons, recruit members and to finance kidnappings and terror attacks in the country.   The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly a dozen foreign and local hostages in the restive region. (Mindanao Examiner)

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