Army says Abu Sayyaf gunrunner killed in Basilan clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A suspected gunrunner of the homegrown terror group Abu Sayyaf in Basilan was killed on Thursday (Oct. 29) in a clash with government soldiers, the military said.

Col. Domingo Gobway, head of the Army’s anti-terror Joint Task Force Basilan, said Abu Ahdar Kandaing, aka Botak, was killed in the town of Ungkaya Pukan.

Gobway said Kandaing specialized in arms dealing for Abu Sayyaf.

Kandaing, a follower of Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama, was also known to assemble explosives and went on extortion missions for the terror group. Kandaing also acted as medic for the terrorists.

Kandaing, according to Gobway, was killed in a clash with soldiers at the village of Felang in Ungkaya Pukan.

The terror suspect was on a motorcyle with two companions when soldiers intercepted them. The three put up a fight, leading to the clash.

Kandaing’s companions fled at the height of the gunfire.

Gobway said soldiers took Kandaing’s remains, an M-60 machine gun and the motorcycle that the suspect was using.

TSB