June 6, 2004, The Philippine Star, Ex-Sayyaf man turned military informer slain,

June 6, 2004, The Philippine Star, Ex-Sayyaf man turned military informer slain,

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A former Abu Sayyaf member who turned into a military asset was gunned down by suspected hit men of the extremist Moro rebel group in a village east of this city Thursday night, police said. 

Investigators said the victim, Abtong Bairula, said to be a former follower of Abu Sayyaf chief Khadaffy Janjalani, was on his way home in Sitio Logoy Grande, Barangay Talon-Talon when he was attacked. 

Bairula died from three gunshot wounds. 

Authorities revealed that Bairula joined military intelligence agents in last December's raid in Indanan, Sulu that led to the capture and wounding of Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot. 

Probers could not say whether Bairula's killing was related to his work as a military informer. 

The military, however, would neither confirm nor deny if Bairula, indeed, worked as an asset. — Roel Pareño