July 7, 2002, The Philippine Star, Troops scour Basilan villages for Abu remnants,

July 7, 2002, The Philippine Star, Troops scour Basilan villages for Abu remnants,

Philippine troops backed by United States Special Forces pressed their search-and-destroy operations against remnants of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the hinterlands of Basilan. 

The relentless military offensive forced the Muslim terrorists out of their jungle hideouts and merge with the villagers to avoid arrest. 

Col. Alexander Aleo, commander of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, said his men have also combed residential areas in a bid to ferret out Abu Sayyaf bandits seeking refuge in the homes of peace-loving citizens. 

Some of the Abu Sayyaf gunmen were believed to have rejoined their families and relatives to evade the military. 

However, the villagers who have vowed to cooperate with the authorities in combating the Abu Sayyaf menace, have started reporting about the presence of suspicious persons in their respective communities. 

"The troops, in close coordination with the civilian volunteers, penetrate residential areas in the province for possible presence of armed elements that could have mixed with local residents," Aleo said. 

The Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf faction led by Khadafy Janjalani has reportedly splintered into small groups to enhance their mobility and elude the pursuing soldiers. 

Janjalani and a close aide identified as Abu Sulayman, along with some of their followers, have reportedly fled Sulu island and sought refuge in Patikul town, stronghold of so-called one-armed bandit Radulan Sahiron. 

Aleo said other Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf leaders such as Isnilon Hapilon, believed to be the group’s operations officer, and Hamsiraji Sali were still in Basilan. – Roel Pareño 

"These sub-commanders (Hapilon and Sali) are from Basilan and their families are there so they cannot just leave the place," Aleo said, adding that the two bandits were from Lantawan town. 

Apart from the bounty raised by the Philippine government, the US government has offered a $5 million reward for any information leading to the capture of top Abu Sayyaf leaders–Janjalani, Sulayman, Hapilon, Sali, Ghalib Andang alias Commander Robot and Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya. 

Aleo said it would be difficult for Hapilon and Sali to leave Basilan because their families live there. 

Sabaya was believed killed last month in an encounter with soldiers off Sibuco town in Zamboanga del Norte while trying to flee for Sulu aboard a speed boat. But his body, which reportedly fell overboard after getting hit, has not been recovered. 

Meanwhile, villagers displaced by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist activities have started returning to their homes as the presence of government forces and completion of infrastructure projects implemented by the US Seabees and Philippine Army engineers restored normalcy in their communities.