Military kills another Abu Sayyaf sub-leader in Sulu

Government troops on Friday night killed another sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf in an encounter in Indanan, Sulu.

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said its troops killed Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya, a bomb expert and responsible for "many celebrated kidnapping cases" and bombings.

A military report said Misaya was killed by combined Marine troops in an encounter in Barangay Silangkan at around 9:35 p.m.

The AFP said Misaya was a Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf sub-leader and a native of Barangay Bunot, Indanan town.

It said the bandit leader was involved in the October 2002 Malagutay bombing that killed US serviceman Sgt. Mark Jackson and wounded 23 others; the January 2009 bombing of Salaam Bridge in Indanan town and the March 2011 bombing of the Dennis coffee Shop in Jolo town, which left four civilians dead and 11 others wounded.

Misaya was involved in the recent kidnapping of German sailor Juergen Kantner and the kidnapping of Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Martiess Flor in Samal Island in 2015.

The AFP said follow-up operations are ongoing.

Misaya is the second Abu Sayyaf sub-leader killed by government troops this month.

Joint police and military teams killed Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Muammar Askali alias Abu Rami in clashes in Inabanga, Bohol last April 11.

Askali's group slipped into Bohol to carry out kidnappings. Nine other bandits in Askali's group have been killed by the military.

In a statement, Malacañang said that the killing of another Abu Sayyaf sub-leader is a big blow to the dreaded terror group.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella also reminded that beating the Abu Sayyaf group involves the cooperation of the public.

"We call on all citizens to remain vigilant, alert and watchful in cooperating with security forces to end the menace of this bandit group; as government holds them accountable for their brutal and senseless crimes," he said.

"Let us cooperate to have safer and more secure communities.  This is our shared responsibility," he said. —Rie Takumi and Trisha Macas/ALG, GMA News