Abu Sayyaf leader wounded in battle

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Isnilon Totoni Hapilon, second in command of the Abu Sayyaf group, was fatally wounded with his unnamed son during a military air strike in a remote village in Sulu on Wednesday, military officials said. "We were told that Isnilon and his son were fatally wounded," Maj. Eugene S. Batara, Jr., spokesman for Western Mindanao Command, told BusinessWorld. He said the air strike ended Thursday with the military conducting mopping-up operations. Hapilon masterminded the kidnapping and killing of an American couple and other foreign tourists, who were held captives for a year in 2002. Hapilon and Jainal Sali, Jr. are the only remaining Abu Sayyaf commanders since Khadaffy Janjalani, Aldam Tilao, Hamsiraji Sali and Jainal Antel Sali were all killed in recent years. The Reward for Justice program of the United States government has placed a $5-million bounty on Hapilon. Bomb-making facility In a statement, Joint Task Force Comet chief Brig. Gen. Juancho M. Sabban said the early dawn "surgical strike" also led to the capture of the terrorist group’s main bomb-making camp in the town of Indanan. Based on the military intelligence report, the bomb-making facility was believed to be the source of explosives used during the recent twin bombings in Zamboanga. "The terrorists shall not be given a chance to regroup and to launch further terrorist attacks against our communities. Swift and decisive military move is most necessary," Mr. Sabban said. Mr. Batara said based on ground reports, the bandits had several casualties and scores of wounded. A Marine sustained a wound on his legs during the follow-up operation. Mr. Sabban said troops engaged at least 200 Abu Sayyaf bandits. The military has earlier estimated the number of remaining Abu Sayyaf members at less than a hundred, significantly down from its peak of 2,000 in late 1990s. — Darwin T. Wee, BusinessWorld