Rush_die
12-08-2003, 02:24 AM
http://www.inq7.net/archive/2003/dec/08/zoom.jpg
CAPTURED AFTER SHOOTOUT
Abu Sayyaf's 'Robot' hurt;
President lauds troops
THE ABU Sayyaf's Commander Robot, wanted for a string of kidnappings, including those of dozens of foreign hostages at a Malaysia resort in April 2000, was wounded and captured Sunday night in an encounter with the military in Indanan, Sulu.
Maj. Gen. Trifonio Salazar, head of the 1st Tabak Infantry Division, said Robot, whose real name is Galib Andang, was brought to the headquarters of the Army's 104th Brigade in Jolo, Sulu, after the clash in Barangay Panabuan about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
President Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) for the capture of Robot, who carried a P5-million price on his head.
Ms Macapagal told the Inquirer that the military was now working for the capture of the Abu Sayyaf's top leader, Khaddafy Janjalani.
Salazar said troops of the Army's 104th Brigade and the Military Intelligence Group under the Isafp were involved in Robot's capture. He did not provide other details.
But sources at the Southern Command said Robot suffered gunshot wounds in his legs.
Brig. Gen. Alexander Yapching, commander of 104th Brigade, said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya was going to Sulu "first thing in the morning."
"This is one big step in our international fight against terrorism," said Abaya.
The military denied earlier reports that Andang had been killed in the encounter.
The Abu Sayyaf has been branded a terrorist organization by Washington and Manila and is said to have links with the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.
Andang was the most senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf accounted for by the military since the killing of another leader of the group, Mujib Susukan, in February.
Another leader, Nadzmi Saabdulla, alias Commander Global, was arrested in General Santos City in July, 2001.
Two other ranking Jolo-based Abu Sayyaf leaders, Abu Jumdail, alias Doc Abu, and Radulan Sajirun, remain at large.
The US government had also offered bounty totaling five million dollars for Janjalani and four other Abu Sayyaf leaders based in Basilan for the kidnapping of Martin and Gracia Burnham in May 2001.
Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, was reported killed in a June 2002 clash with Marines in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, but his body was never recovered. Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leaders Hapilon Isnilon, Hamsiraji Salih and Abu Sulayman, however, remain at large.
The Abu Sayyaf is a Muslim group branded as terrorists by Washington and Manila and said to have links with the al-Qaeda network of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The group is feared for engaging in kidnappings and bomb attacks against foreigners and Christians in the southern Philippines for more than a decade.
CAPTURED AFTER SHOOTOUT
Abu Sayyaf's 'Robot' hurt;
President lauds troops
THE ABU Sayyaf's Commander Robot, wanted for a string of kidnappings, including those of dozens of foreign hostages at a Malaysia resort in April 2000, was wounded and captured Sunday night in an encounter with the military in Indanan, Sulu.
Maj. Gen. Trifonio Salazar, head of the 1st Tabak Infantry Division, said Robot, whose real name is Galib Andang, was brought to the headquarters of the Army's 104th Brigade in Jolo, Sulu, after the clash in Barangay Panabuan about 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
President Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) for the capture of Robot, who carried a P5-million price on his head.
Ms Macapagal told the Inquirer that the military was now working for the capture of the Abu Sayyaf's top leader, Khaddafy Janjalani.
Salazar said troops of the Army's 104th Brigade and the Military Intelligence Group under the Isafp were involved in Robot's capture. He did not provide other details.
But sources at the Southern Command said Robot suffered gunshot wounds in his legs.
Brig. Gen. Alexander Yapching, commander of 104th Brigade, said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya was going to Sulu "first thing in the morning."
"This is one big step in our international fight against terrorism," said Abaya.
The military denied earlier reports that Andang had been killed in the encounter.
The Abu Sayyaf has been branded a terrorist organization by Washington and Manila and is said to have links with the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.
Andang was the most senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf accounted for by the military since the killing of another leader of the group, Mujib Susukan, in February.
Another leader, Nadzmi Saabdulla, alias Commander Global, was arrested in General Santos City in July, 2001.
Two other ranking Jolo-based Abu Sayyaf leaders, Abu Jumdail, alias Doc Abu, and Radulan Sajirun, remain at large.
The US government had also offered bounty totaling five million dollars for Janjalani and four other Abu Sayyaf leaders based in Basilan for the kidnapping of Martin and Gracia Burnham in May 2001.
Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya, was reported killed in a June 2002 clash with Marines in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, but his body was never recovered. Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leaders Hapilon Isnilon, Hamsiraji Salih and Abu Sulayman, however, remain at large.
The Abu Sayyaf is a Muslim group branded as terrorists by Washington and Manila and said to have links with the al-Qaeda network of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The group is feared for engaging in kidnappings and bomb attacks against foreigners and Christians in the southern Philippines for more than a decade.