June 22, 2002, New York Times, Philippines Reports a Top Muslim Rebel Leader Died in Clash, by Raymond Bonner

June 22, 2002, New York Times, Philippines Reports a Top Muslim Rebel Leader Died in Clash, by Raymond Bonner with Eric Schmitt,

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines said today that a top leader of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim rebel group that had kidnapped Americans and dozens of other foreigners in recent years, had been killed in a clash with Philippine troops, who were assisted by American forces.

The leader, who went by the nom de guerre of Abu Sabaya but whose real name is Aldam Tilao, was reported killed early today in the waters off the southern region of Zamboanga, the president's office said.

Abu Sabaya's body was not recovered, and Philippine sailors were still looking for it tonight. But accounts from the Pentagon seemed to support the likelihood that he had been killed, and statements from Philippine and American leaders clearly presumed that he was already dead.

Speaking in Orlando, Fla., tonight, President Bush said Abu Sabaya had ''met his maker.''

Maj. Richard Sater, a spokesman for the United States forces in the southern Philippines, said the Americans had provided support during the clash -- ''some surveillance and communication, that sort of thing'' -- but had not been directly involved in the fighting. He called the development ''a step forward in the war against terrorism.''

Last month, the United States offered $5 million for information leading to the arrest or capture of Abu Sabaya and four other Abu Sayyaf leaders, who had kidnapped several Americans, most recently Martin and Gracia Burnham, missionaries from Kansas. Mr. Burnham was killed about half a mile from today's clash in a botched rescue by Philippine soldiers on June 7, as was a Filipino nurse, Ediborah Yap; Mrs. Burnham was wounded, and has since returned to the United States.

After the rescue attempt, Philippine forces stepped up their pursuit of the guerrillas. Abu Sayyaf came on the scene in the early 1990's, with demands for an Islamic state, but degenerated into what Philippine commanders called ''bandits.''

At one point, Abu Sayyaf received money from a relative of Osama bin Laden, but beyond that its links to Al Qaeda were tenuous.

Mrs. Arroyo's national security adviser, Roilo Golez, said Abu Sabaya, whose trademark was a bandana around his head and sunglasses, was ''the most identifiable icon of Abu Sayyaf.''

Glenda Gloria, co-author of ''Under the Crescent Moon: Rebellion in Mindanao,'' the definitive book on the subject, said the death of Abu Sabaya ''is a big victory for the government because he is the most notorious and the most ruthless of the leaders.'' She described him as ''particularly good at propaganda.''

After Abu Sayyaf beheaded an American hostage, Guillermo Sobero, in June 2001, Abu Sabaya called a radio station and said, ''We've released unconditionally one American, our amigo Guillermo, but we released him without a head.''

He then taunted Mrs. Arroyo, saying, ''Tell Gloria to hurry up and solve this with her rescue operation, because you might not have any hostages left.''

Two months ago, he took to the airwaves to taunt the United States. ''It's embarrassing for the Philippine government because the U.S. hostages are with us for 11 months now,'' he said, referring to the Burnhams. ''It's even more embarrassing because the superpower can't do anything to us. What I can say to the U.S. government and the U.S. troops is, 'Welcome to the party.' ''

Abu Sabaya's supposed end early today came when the Philippine Navy began following a boat from a coastal village after they received a tip from an informant about when and where Abu Sabaya would try to flee to his hideout on Basilan island, according to a Pentagon official.

A Navy P-3 surveillance plane and Navy SEAL boats helped track the vessel, a 25-foot motorized King Fisher outrigger canoe, the official said.

The Philippine soldiers, using night-vision goggles, decided to intercept the boat after they saw seven armed men on board, officials said. As they approached, the soldiers came under fire and shot back, hitting three men who fell overboard, military officials said.

The Philippine forces then used their speedboat to ram the other vessel, badly damaging it. The four other gunmen surrendered. A Pentagon official said one Philippine commando had fired from short range at one rebel in a black sweatshirt who was trying to swim away. He was identified as Abu Sabaya by the four captured gunmen, officials said.

After the outrigger canoe sank, two American MH-47 Chinooks helicopters were assisted in the search for the bodies of the guerrillas who had leapt overboard.

''The captured Abu Sayyaf members confirmed that one of those who jumped into the sea was Abu Sabaya, who was wearing a black sweat shirt,'' Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.