Abu Sayyaf bomb expert wounded in Maguindanao clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY — An explosives expert who took part in the bombing of a Visayas-bound ferry last year was wounded in the military offensive against Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafi Janjalani in Maguindanao yesterday.

Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, Armed Forces Southern Command chief, said Jainal Antel Sali Jr., alias Abu Solaiman, heads the Abu Sayyaf Urban Terrorist Group, an elite squad trained in terrorist bombings.

"There is a standing order from AFP chief of staff Gen. (Efren) Abu to run after this terrorist relentlessly," he said. "And we also give credit to the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) for helping in ridding us of this terrorist band."

Braganza said there were also reports that Janjalani was wounded in the attack, but military intelligence could not confirm this information.

"Our forces are verifying the reports but we cannot ascertain yet" if they are true, he said.

On the other hand, Maj. Gen. Agustin Dema-Ala, Army 6th Infantry Division commander, said soldiers killed four Abu Sayyaf bandits in combat fatigues and armed with assault rifles in a shootout in the towns of Talayan, Guindulungan and Datu Odin Sinsuat in the boundary of Maguindanao.

Janjalani was not one of the slain gunmen, he added.

Dema-ala said Janjalani and his men have been moving from one area to another in Maguindanao to elude pursuing government troops.

Since July 1, downpours and the rugged terrain have been hampering troops who had been hunting down Janjalani and his band of terrorists, he added.

Meanwhile, Marine Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) commander, said the government and MILF joint ceasefire committee had agreed to delineate borders at several strategic spots in Talayan, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Guindulungan towns, all in Maguindanao, to prevent an encounter between the two forces.

"To prevent undue encounters between the MILF forces in these areas and the soldiers pursuing Abu Sayyaf bandits, members of the joint ceasefire committee agreed on determining areas where soldiers can freely operate and hunt for Janjalani and the areas where there are MILF forces observing the ceasefire," he said.

"To prevent hostilities that can endanger the ceasefire, MILF rebels in duly acknowledged territories will not roam in areas where Janjalani and his followers are being chased. Soldiers will not intrude, without prior coordination, into areas where there are MILF rebels either."

Braganza said the military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf in South Upi town will continue until all its leaders and their Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist allies have been "neutralized."

As of the latest casualty count, six Abu Sayyaf terrorists were killed and an undetermined number wounded in the assault, he added.

Janjalani and Solaiman are reportedly leading a band of 30 Abu Sayyaf and JI terrorists in Central Mindanao.

Meanwhile, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Mayor Zaldy Ampatuan said some town residents had fled to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

"But this will not affect the forthcoming election (in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) as the military and police are handling the situation properly," he said.

Jointly established by the government and MILF peace panel, the AHJAG monitors the activities of criminal gangs and lawless elements in areas covered by the ceasefire.

Last week, MILF guerrillas nearly shot down a Huey helicopter transporting soldiers from the command headquarters of the 6th Infantry Division to Guindulungan where Janjalani had been sighted.

Attack helicopters twice fired early this week at MILF rebels retreating from an area near where the Abu Sayyaf bandits have been seen to allow soldiers to run after them.

Troops from the 6th ID started hunting down Janjalani last July 1 at the tri-boundaries of Talayan, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Guindulungan towns.

Four of Janjalani’s followers have since been killed by pursuing soldiers in a series of encounters. — Roel Pareño, John Unson, Jaime Laude