Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar Monday put all his men on full alert following the killing of four Abu Sayyaf Group members in Jolo, Sulu. Officials continue to seek Abu Sayyaf bomb maker Mundi Sawadjaan
Among those killed were Mundi's brother, Al-Al Sawadjaan; ASG sub-leader Injam Yadah; an ASG member identified as Raup; and another unidentified ASG member.
Troops killed an Abu Sayyaf leader blamed for beheadings and three of his followers in a gunbattle, the military said Monday.
Military officials said the troops tracked down an Abu Sayyaf hideout where the terrorist Injam Yadah and his followers had been hiding. The terrorists opened fire, The Manila Times reported.
Yadah was killed instantly with a follower identified as Raup. Also dead are Al-al Sawadjaan, Mundi's youngest brother, and another unidentified Abu Sayyaf member.
Eleazar said the police and military will conduct joint operations to capture Mundi and other "bandits." "We are doubling our efforts to capture Mundi and his men. We will intensify our coordination with the armed forces as well as our intelligence gathering efforts to combat this group and stop their attacks on innocent civilians."
Major Gen. William Gonzales said soldiers and police were trying to serve an arrest warrant against Yadah over kidnapping charges when the alleged terrorists fired.
Yadah played a big role in the kidnapping of five Indonesian fishermen in Malaysia waters Jan. 16, 2020, according to the Philippine News Agency.
"We've long been on the hunt for Yadah. Has a reputation of being extremely violent - beheading captured innocent civilians and security forces alike. Finally, his hideous acts will now come to a full stop," PNA quoted Gonzales as saying.
A M-653 carbine, a 0.45-caliber pistol, bomb materials and 15 cellular phones were seized. Yadah's wife, identified only as Jhing, was arrested and their three children detained, reports said.
"All of our forces under JTF-Sulu are doubling our efforts to also catch Mundi Sawadjaan. His brothers are now dead and we are optimistic he will also be neutralized," Gonzalez said.
