| Renegade Abu leader Abdul Midjal killed in clash
ZAMBOANGA (ABS-CBN) - The
military confirmed former Abu Sayyaf group leader Abdul Midjal was killed by patrolling
military men in Sumisip town, Basilan province, on Sunday.
The military confirmed a clash between the bandit group ensued
which resulted to the killing of Midjal, but refused to release details of the clash, a
news wire report said.
Early this year, Midjal's group seized Abu Sayyaf leader
Khadafy Janjalani's mother, his pregnant wife, their one-year-old child, and eight other
clan members in an attempt to force the Abu Sayyaf to free hostages, including two of
Midjal's daughters.
A Catholic priest, students and teachers were among about 80
people seized by the bandits on March 20 from two schools in Basilan.
The rebels freed some of the hostages as troops pursued them
on the day of the abduction. Another group of 18 teachers and students were released a few
days later following negotiations between the bandits and local officials.
Midjal threatened to kill Janjalani's relatives if the rebels
harmed any of their captives. The rebels beheaded two male teachers, but Midjal did not
carry out his threat.
The military later rescued the remaining Abu Sayyaf hostages,
but three other teachers and the priest were killed by the rebels.
Authorities later persuaded Midjal to free his captives in
exchange for the release of some of the hostages.
In interviews earlier this year, Midjal said he broke away
from the Abu Sayyaf and formed a vigilante group to fight his former comrades because he
could no longer support their activities, including kidnappings and attacks on Christian
communities.
Later in April, other Abu Sayyaf factions seized 21 foreign
tourists and workers from Malaysia's Sipadan resort and brought them to Jolo island.
Twenty of the hostages have been freed in exchange for more than US$15 million in ransom,
negotiators said.
The 21st hostage, Filipino Roland Ulla, is still being held by
the group of Ghalib Andang alias Kumander Robot along with American Jeffrey Schilling, who
was seized by the rebels in August.
Meanwhile, fierce encounters between the military and the Abu
Sayyaf in Sulu continued over the weekend.
Reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Southern Command revealed, military troops engaged groups of fully armed bandits in
Talipao, Patikul, Maimbung and Panamao starting Friday last week.
An undetermined number of bandits were reportedly killed in
the skirmishes.
The government forces also recovered a number of firearms in
Panamano after minutes of firefight against the bandits.
Southern Command spokesperson Hilario Atendido said, the
offensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf will continue until they safely recover
Schilling and Ullah.
(With a report from Associated Press)
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