One-armed bandit leader wounded in Sulu clash - AFP

One-armed Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron was wounded while six other bandits were killed in the weekend clash in Patikul, Sulu that resulted in the death of 11 government troopers, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced yesterday.

In a radio interview, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Eduardo Purificacion said residents of Barangay Darayan in Patikul told government agents that Sahiron sustained some gunshot wounds while six other bandits men were killed and five wounded.

"According to our informants, there were many of them hit, including Sahiron although it did not appear to be fatal," Purificacion said.

Sahiron, who carries a P5 million reward on his head, leads one of the factions of the Abu Sayyaf group and is among those who planned and carried out the abduction of 21 tourists in Sipadan, Malaysia in April 2000.

He is also holding four female Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were abducted on Aug. 21 while they were selling cosmetic products in Patikul.

The four Jehovah’s Witnesses were kidnapped by Sahiron’s nephew Abdulmuin Sahiron, who was later killed in an encounter with government troops at the border of Patikul and Talipao towns.

Abdulmuin was killed in another intense gun fight with elements of three Marine brigades, backed by two MG520 attack helicopters, which have been pursuing the group through Mount Bagsak, Mount Mungit, Mount Tunggol and Mount Sinumaan around Patikul.

Before his death, Abdulmuin turned over his hostages – Norie Bendijo, Cleofe and her sister-in-law Flora Montulo and Emely Mantic – to Radullan, who is now fleeing a manhunt which the military has dubbed "Operation Endgame."

Terrorists’ row

In Zamboanga City, Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina said the government should put up a "terrorists’ row" for all terrorists captured by the authorities.

Carolina made the suggestion after two captured Abu Sayyaf members escaped from the Metro Manila Rehabilitation Center (MMRC) in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Oct. 12.

"If there’s a death row, there should (also) be a terrorists’ row," Carolina said, apparently irked at the escape of brothers Iting and Anni Sailani.

Carolina suggested that jail guards watching over the Abu Sayyaf bandits implement stricter security measures, like separating the bandits from other criminals and making them wear special prisoners’ clothing.

Also detained at the MMRC are Abu Sayyaf leaders Hector Janjalani, brother of the bandits’ overall leader Khadafi Janjalani, and Amin Ajijon, who are charged with a string of kidnappings and murders in Basilan and Sulu, including the kidnapping of American Jeffrey Schilling.

The Sailani brothers are among the 73 Abu Sayyaf bandits who were arrested by authorities in various crackdown operations in Basilan and Sulu earlier this year.

The Sailanis escaped before noon Saturday by disguising themselves as women using clothes provided by their wives.

Stricter security

But the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said it has already implemented stricter security measures at the five-story detention facility which occupies some five hectares of Camp Bagong Diwa, a training facility of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Superintendent Jorge Pelania, who replaced Chief Inspector Romeo Vio who was sacked for the Sailanis’ escape, said the Abu Sayyaf bandits are now being guarded by a special team composed of PNP Special Action Force, Regional Special Action Unit and the Blue Patrol.

Superintendent Carlito Abogado, Camp Bagong Diwa commander, also said a strict curfew is now being enforced in the camp and stricter measures on screening visitors are to be implemented.

He added that members of Task Force Campo and its mother unit, Task Force Southern Storm, would be meeting today to discuss further security measures. – With Nikko Dizon, AFP