April 11, 2004, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf leader, 4 men killed in clash, by Christina Mendez,

April 11, 2004, The Philippine Star, Sayyaf leader, 4 men killed in clash, by Christina Mendez,

An Abu Sayyaf leader who carried a P5-million bounty on his head and four of his henchmen, including his brother Sahir, were killed in a clash with Army Scout Rangers last Thursday in Isabela, Basilan. Three soldiers were wounded and another died en route to a hospital. 

Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, chief of the military's Southern Command, said a tipster whose information led soldiers to the group of Abu Sayyaf senior leader Hamsiraji Sali would get the P5-million reward offered by the government. 

Kyamko said his troops are on the trail of other Abu Sayyaf leaders. "They also have two feet, so it’s just a matter of timing, but we will also catch up with them in the end," he told ABS-CBN television. 

Yesterday, President Arroyo hailed the killing of Sali, who was allegedly involved in the abductions of three American tourists and several Filipinos in 2001. 

"I congratulate everybody involved and this is a major victory in our fight against the Abu Sayyaf and terrorism," Mrs. Arroyo told a news conference. "We are really working very hard so that our country will be safe from terrorism." 

Sali's killing was the result of "good" intelligence work by security forces, Mrs. Arroyo said, but she emphasized that countries must work closely if the global war on terrorism is to succeed. 

Sali was one of five top Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by the United States for kidnapping Americans and was the second in the wanted list to be killed in a shootout with troops. 

Aldam Tilao, better known as Abu Sabaya, the Abu Sayyaf's flamboyant spokesman, was killed in 2002. 

Sali's killing left Isnilon Hapilon, Khaddafy Janjalani and Jainal Antel Sali, also known as Abu Solaiman, on the most wanted list. 

The Abu Sayyaf, which is known mainly for kidnappings and bombing attacks in the South, has been linked by Washington and Manila to the al-Qaeda network of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden. 

Sali was allegedly involved in a 2001 raid on a Palawan resort, where three American tourists and several Filpinos were kidnapped. 

One of the Americans, Peruvian-born Guillermo Sobero, was executed. Missionary Martin Burnham was killed during a military rescue operation in June 2002. His wife, Gracia, was rescued. 

Ghalib Andang, another senior Abu Sayyaf leader who is not on the US list but recently arrested, told authorities that Sali broke off from Janjalani's group over disagreements over ransom money. 

In previous calls to local radio and television stations two years ago, Sali said the break was due to contradicting views and goals. He said he wanted to surrender and cooperate with the government to help the civilian population of Basilan, where he is based. 

But Sali, who used the alias Kumander Jose Ramirez, said this was conditional on the military halting its offensive there, and warned he might change his mind and retaliate if the army backed off. 

Military officials said then that Sali was apparently feeling the pressure of the continuous military offensive and challenged the Abu Sayyaf leader to surrender unconditional and face justice. 

Sali's killing came days after the arrest of six suspected Abu Sayyaf members, who were allegedly plotting bomb attacks in Metro Manila that could kill scores of people. 

The arrests dismantled a "most dangerous terrorist cell" of the Abu Sayyaf, Mrs. Arroyo said. 

One of the suspects, Redendo Dellosa, was allegedly responsible for the recent fire that sank the SuperFerry 14. Dellosa was said to have smuggled aboard a bomb in a television set. 

Mrs. Arroyo said authorities were hunting for more terror suspects and their foreign supporters. 

The arrest of six suspected Abu Sayyaf members had stopped their plans "but some are still in hiding." 

"We are closely watching foreigners in the country who may have taught them to make bombs and who may have laundered money from the al-Qaeda and the JI (Jemaah Islamiyah) into the pockets of local bombers," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement. 

"We shall respect diplomatic conventions and be circumspect in assessing our evidence. But once we have it, they will be arrested and brought to justice," she said. 

The President did not specify who these foreigners were but in recent months there have been reports that members of the Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror group have been training with local Muslim armed groups in Mindanao. 

Police last Tuesday presented the six suspected Abu Sayyaf members. They also said they had seized an explosives cache from the group. 

Among the six, one of whom was later released, was Alhamser Manatad Limbong, an Abu Sayyaf member who allegedly beheaded American hostage Sobero. 

US Embassy public affairs counselor Ronald Post said Washington had sent a "provisional arrest warrant (as) the first step in the extradition process" of the suspect. 

He stressed the Philippines still had first jurisdiction and that the request just put on record the US interest in prosecuting him. 

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said any intelligence obtained from the suspects would be shared with allies such as the United States. 

Malacañang announced last week the creation of a task force of Muslim police to hunt suspected terrorists and to allay fears of persecution in the Muslim community. 

Bunye said the force was one of a string of measures announced by Mrs. Arroyo in a meeting with Muslim minority leaders late Tuesday after complaints that police were targeting the community in a campaign against Islamic extremists. 

To address the Muslim community's concerns, three senior Muslim police officials would head the creation of a task force of Muslim lawmen to be called "the Salaam police." 

"This would be composed also of Muslim policemen and they will be assigned to the (counter-terror) operations," Bunye said although he conceded it would take time to form the task force. 

In a further bid to improve relations, Mrs. Arroyo appointed her chief peace negotiator, Teresita Deles to have direct contacts with the Muslim community, Bunye said. 

Opposition critics have charged that the crackdown on supposed terrorists was motivated by Mrs. Arroyo's wish to project an image of toughness against terrorists ahead of May 10 presidential elections. — With Marichu Villanueva, Roel Pareño, AFP