Suspected Abu Sayyaf leader captured in Tawi-Tawi encounter —military

A suspected leader of the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf kidnap for ransom group was captured during an encounter in Tawi-Tawi with state soldiers, the military said on Sunday.

He was identified as Majan Sahidjuan, a.k.a. Apo Mike, the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Philippine Army's Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said in a press release.

The military first received a report on the presence of fully-armed men in Barangay Kalupag Island, Wesmincom commander Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said.

Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi troops, particularly from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6, then proceeded to the area on Saturday evening.

“The troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6 under Lt. Col. Venjie Pendon acted on a report regarding the presence of suspicious fully-armed men in Barangay Kalupag Island. Onboard PS 35 headed by Col. Nestor Narag, Jr., the Deputy Brigade Commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, the troops proceeded to the area but upon their arrival, the terrorists opened fire,” Vinluan said.

Sahidjuan was wounded during the exchange of gunfire and was abandoned by his comrades.

“He was abandoned by his two comrades who fled bringing along the remaining Indonesian kidnap victim with them,” Pendon said.

The military has launched a hot pursuit operation to apprehend the abductors and rescue the kidnap victim.

Soldiers were able to rescue the 15-year-old victim on Sunday morning. —KG, GMA News