Roda killer slain in Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Marines and Navy commandos killed the suspected killer of Catholic priest Fr. Reynaldo Roda and captured his comrade when troops raided an island off Tawi-Tawi at dawn yesterday.

Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino said the slain terrorist Wahab Upao was an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander who had a P2.5-million bounty on his head.

Upao took part in the abduction of 21 mostly European tourists in Sipadan off Sabah in 2000 and a bomb attack on Zamboanga City, he added.

The captured terrorist, Asnan Sawajaan, was wounded in the fighting, Dolorfino said.

Maj. Eugene Batara Jr., Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman, said according to information reaching his office, the encounter took place in Balimbingan island at around 5 a.m.

“The combined Marines, Navy and military intelligence group agents staged the operation and the target was the group responsible for the killing of Fr. Roda and the abduction of a teacher,” he said.

Troops at the scene could not be reached by any means of military communications, he added.

The military has no immediate information if teacher Omar Taup was with the kidnappers.

Taup was snatched by the killers of Roda when they fled last Jan. 15. – Roel Pareño, James Mananghaya