Army officer: Abu Sayyaf leader Hapilon hurt in Basilan clash

A leader of the Abu Sayyaf was among those wounded in a ground assault launched by government security forces on the bandit group's camp in Basilan on Monday, a regional Army commander claimed Tuesday.

 

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Basilan-based 104th Infantry Brigade, said bandit leader Isnilon Hapilon sustained a “slight wound” on the head after Abu Sayyaf members clashed with government troops and policemen in Barangay Silangkum in Tipo-Tipo town on early morning Monday.

 

Two unidentified bodies, believed to be that of Abu Sayyaf members, have already been recovered by security forces, Galvez added. The military official earlier reported that at least eight bandits were killed in the assault. Galvez likewise said that aside from Hapilon, five other Abu Sayyaf members and two soldiers were also wounded in the clash.

 

Hapilon, one of the targets of the attack, is currently facing kidnapping and murder charges for his alleged involvement in the attack on the Golden Harvest Plantation in 2001 and the Dos Palmas Kidnapping in 2001, a military statement said Monday.

 

'No let up' on campaign vs Abu Sayyaf

 

Galvez likewise maintained that the assault targeted Abu Sayyaf members, whom he accused of “pestering” the area. He said the bandit group wanted to extort P1 million from an infrastructure project in Basilan.

 

“Maraming kidnapping and extortion. The politicians are complaining already. 'Yung Basilan Circumferential Road, ineextort nila ng P1 million,” he said.

 

He added that the military will continue its campaign against the Abu Sayyaf group in the coming days.

 

“Walang let up po itong operations na ito unti the Tipo-Tipo and Al Barka areas have been cleared of Abu Sayyaf. Nagfo-focused military operations kami ngayon,” he said.

 

The Abu Sayyaf group, believed to have links with the al Qaeda terrorist network, has been blamed for several kidnapping and bombing incidents in southern Philippines and Metro Manila. — with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News