MANILA, Philippines — A top leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group based in Basilan may be dead, the military said Friday.
Furuji Indama was likely killed in a clash with the military in Basilan in September 2020 and authorities are currently validating it, said Western Mindanao Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Alaric delos Santos.
“Revelation ng mga dating kasamahan niya at ng mga tropa na nakakita during the encounter na severely wounded siya during that time. Kaya lang binitbit talaga nila at hindi iniwan despite the heavy fires po ng tropa natin,” he told reporters.
“Kailangan nating i-validate talaga yung information, though marami nang nagsasabi na patay, especially yung kanyang mga kasamahan,” he said.
Indama was reportedly killed in an encounter in Zamboanga Sibugay province on Sept. 9. He is wanted for the 2001 kidnapping of 20 tourists in Dos Palmas Island.
He also played an alleged role in the 2018 suicide bombing at a military checkpoint in Basilan which killed 11 people.
One of his followers, who was known as alias Botak, was killed in a firefight on Thursday in Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan, the Wesmincom said in a separate report.
“The neutralized personality was onboard a motorcycle along with two of his comrades when they were intercepted by the operating troops of the 101st Infantry Brigade and the 18th Infantry Battalion, and the firefight ensued,” said Wesmincom chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr.
One M60 machine gun and a motorcycle were recovered at the site of the clash.