December 19, 1998, PHNO, Abu Sayyaf Chief, Public Enemy No. 1, Killed,

December 19, 1998, PHNO, Abu Sayyaf Chief, Public Enemy No. 1, Killed,

Manila, Dec. 19, 1998 - The country's most wanted criminal, Abu Sayyaf leader Abdurajak Janjalani, was killed yesterday in an encounter with police and military troopers in Lamitan, Basilan Island.

GMA Channel 7 broke the news in its late night newscast Friday.

Today, the Philippine Star carried an interview with Philippine National Police Regional director Chief Superintendent Dominador Domingo, who said Janjalani was with 20 Abu Sayyaf Islamic Fundamentalist rebels when spotted by a 12-member government patrol team.

Janjalani and two of his followers were killed in the firefight, while two government men were killed, three were wounded and two are still missing.

Domingo reported to PNP Headquarters at Camp Crame last night that Basilan Governor Ustadtz Akbar Wahab confirmed the killing of Janjalani, whose body was brought to the police provincial headquarters in the capital town of Isabela, Basilan.

The Abu Sayyaf, suspected of having international terrorist links, shocked the nation in 1995 when the group razed the town of Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, killing at least 54 civilians. Also in 1995, they were held responsible for the massacre of 15 Catholics in Basilan.

The militant group is also suspected to be behind the grenade blast in a Zamboanga City shopping mall last December 16, wounding at least 65 Christmas shoppers.

Janjalani is known to have trained in Libya and Afghanistan. He carried a P1.5-million reward on his head.