June 5, 2002, The Philippine Star, Abu extort ring's adviser escapes, by John Unson,

June 5, 2002, The Philippine Star, Abu extort ring's adviser escapes, by John Unson,

COTABATO CITY -- The alleged spiritual adviser of the Abu Sayyaf's so-called "Al-Ghazie" extortion ring in Central Mindanao eluded a military dragnet here Monday night.

The operation was carried out with the help of Nur Mohammad Umog and Ahmad Saluan, two of the cohorts of Ustadz Yacob Baruf who were separately arrested here by Army agents last month.

Baruf reportedly escaped from his hideout inside the 32-hectare compound here of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao before soldiers could reach the area.

For two weeks now, the military has been hot on the trail of Baruf, said to be a foreign-trained Islamic theologian with alleged links to Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadafy Janjalani.

Baruf, a Tausog, was twice spotted roaming around this city last month, but mysteriously disappeared following the arrest of Saluan and Umog, who were implicated in the April 21 bombing in General Santos City which left 15 people dead and 55 others wounded.

Saluan, also known as JR Jikiron, and Umog both admitted having used the alias "Abu Muslim" in extorting money from businessmen in the Socsargen (South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos) area.

Saluan and Umog came to Central Mindanao early this year and established an extortion racket in General Santos City, where they were alleged to have burned two department stores to intimidate the local business community.

Saluan and Umog positively identified Baruf as the spiritual adviser of Al-Ghazie, military intelligence sources said.

The sources said Baruf could have fled either to Pagadian City on board a passenger vessel, or to Marawi City via the Secretary Narciso Ramos Highway.

Army Maj. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said their intelligence units are now tracking down Baruf with the help of the local Islamic community.