Janjalani aide’s body found

Combined elements of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) recovered the skeletal remains of one of the reported closest aides of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadafy Janjalani in Maguindanao last Thursday afternoon.

But Brig. Gen. Marlu Quevedo, ISAFP chief, said further tests are needed to confirm if the remains, indeed, belong to Ustadz Hamad Idris.

Idris also reportedly served as the spiritual leader of Janjalani, whose group is now being pursued by government troops in Talayan, Maguindanao.

The remains were found buried in a shallow grave near the Perbang Creek in Sitio Basak, Barangay Tenongos, Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

At least four Abu Sayyaf rebels were killed by Army soldiers during an intense fighting in the vicinity of Sitio Basak last July 11. Idris was believed to be one of the fatalities.