Post by dustdevil28 on Jan 20, 2007 2:10:21 GMT -8
AFP confirms death of ASG's 'engineer'
The military confirmed Wednesday the death of the Abu Sayyaf Group's "engineer" in an encounter with the Philippine Army's Special Forces in Talipao, Sulu Tuesday morning.
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces chief of staff, announced in a press conference that Abu Solaiman was killed by a team of the Army's 8th Special Forces Batallion led by 1st Lt. Almerante Mejares in a clash in Mount Dajo in Talipao town at 9:45 a.m.
The military earlier claimed that Solaiman was only wounded in the encounter. Solaiman's death was confirmed after military field agents ascertained that the body recovered from the encounter site belongs to the bandit leader.
Esperon said Solaiman's body was identified based on an eyelid mole and teeth placements. The military chief said there is a gap between Solaiman's two front teeth.
Esperon said Solaiman, a former engineer, had major involvements in a series of atrocities committed by the al Qaeda-linked group in the country.
"We are even confident that [with] the death of Solaiman, who is actually the number one planner of most of the activities of the Abu Sayyaf Group, [ASG] will continue to go down," Esperon said.
Esperon cited several cases that were allegedly "engineered" by Solaiman.
He said the ASG leader planned the kidnapping of 21 foreign tourists in Dos Palmas Resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in May 27, 2001; hostage-taking of 116 people, including a priest, in Jose Torres Hospital in Lamitan, Basilan in June 2, 2001; series of bombings in Zamboanga City, particularly the blast in Malagutay municipality in Oct. 2, 2002; and an airport bombing in 2003.
The military chief said Solaiman was among those who planned the worst maritime terrorist attack in history, the SuperFerry 14 bombing, in Feb. 27, 2004 that killed 116 passengers. The ASG leader also masterminded the Valentine's Day bombings in Makati, General Santos and Davao cities in 2005.
Esperon said Solaiman plays an important role in ASG. He said Solaiman could also be considered as higher ranked than the group's chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.
www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=63444
The military confirmed Wednesday the death of the Abu Sayyaf Group's "engineer" in an encounter with the Philippine Army's Special Forces in Talipao, Sulu Tuesday morning.
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Armed Forces chief of staff, announced in a press conference that Abu Solaiman was killed by a team of the Army's 8th Special Forces Batallion led by 1st Lt. Almerante Mejares in a clash in Mount Dajo in Talipao town at 9:45 a.m.
The military earlier claimed that Solaiman was only wounded in the encounter. Solaiman's death was confirmed after military field agents ascertained that the body recovered from the encounter site belongs to the bandit leader.
Esperon said Solaiman's body was identified based on an eyelid mole and teeth placements. The military chief said there is a gap between Solaiman's two front teeth.
Esperon said Solaiman, a former engineer, had major involvements in a series of atrocities committed by the al Qaeda-linked group in the country.
"We are even confident that [with] the death of Solaiman, who is actually the number one planner of most of the activities of the Abu Sayyaf Group, [ASG] will continue to go down," Esperon said.
Esperon cited several cases that were allegedly "engineered" by Solaiman.
He said the ASG leader planned the kidnapping of 21 foreign tourists in Dos Palmas Resort in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in May 27, 2001; hostage-taking of 116 people, including a priest, in Jose Torres Hospital in Lamitan, Basilan in June 2, 2001; series of bombings in Zamboanga City, particularly the blast in Malagutay municipality in Oct. 2, 2002; and an airport bombing in 2003.
The military chief said Solaiman was among those who planned the worst maritime terrorist attack in history, the SuperFerry 14 bombing, in Feb. 27, 2004 that killed 116 passengers. The ASG leader also masterminded the Valentine's Day bombings in Makati, General Santos and Davao cities in 2005.
Esperon said Solaiman plays an important role in ASG. He said Solaiman could also be considered as higher ranked than the group's chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.
www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=63444