2 Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in Sulu clash

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits, who were implicated in various incidents of kidnapping locals and foreigners, were killed on Friday, Nov. 20, in separate clashes with Marine troopers in the village of Kawasan in Panamao town, Sulu.

Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, identified the slain kidnappers as Hatib Munap Binda, a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf group, and Bensio Barahama, one of the trusted men of Sansibar Bensio who is notorious for kidnapping foreign nationals and fishing boat workers.

Vinluan said Binda is the senior leader of the group operating in the towns of Kalingalan, Caluang and Panamao.

He was an associate of the late Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Alhabsi Misaya who was thought to be responsible for the series of kidnappings in the high seas bounding Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, Vinluan added.

Bensio was a sub-leader of the Panamao-based ASG and is involved in numerous kidnap-for-ransom activities victimizing foreign nationals including Lorenzo Vinciguerra, a Swiss National, Maharudin Bin Lunani, and Muhammad Farhan, both Indonesian nationals, said Vinluan.

He was also involved in the kidnapping of Filipinos like Ronnie Sandagon, Jerel Pepito, Eddie Reubal, Marcial Espaňa, Arvin Sabanduquia, Rufino Bustilo, Joseph Bani, Hajan Terong, Joshua Bani, and Michelle Tolentino Panes, he added.

Vinluan said Binda died in the first encounter at around 5:45 a.m.. Soldiers recovered Binda’s firearms, an M16 and an M14 rifle.

After an hour, another clash resulted in the death of Barahama and the recovery of his M14 rifle.