Abu Sayyaf leader Hapilon may have been hurt in clash with gov’t troops in Basilan

MANILA, Philippines—The military is verifying reports that Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon was injured in Monday’s encounter with government troops in Basilan.

Col. Charlie Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, said that a bullet supposedly grazed Isnilon’s head during the firefight in Tipo-Tipo.

“It’s unconfirmed because the information came from one source only,” Galvez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Galvez, however, said six ASG members were killed but only two bodies were recovered. Six others were wounded. Three soldiers were wounded.

Galvez said the operation against the Abu Sayyaf in Tipo-Tipo was a product of a six-month preparation that included intelligence work and “build up of friendship” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“This is the first operation that no MILF members joined,” Galvez said.

Galvez stressed that Monday’s firefight was an “engagement purely between the government and the Abu Sayyaf,” contrary to the claim by the MILF that the military violated the ceasefire and allegedly raided MILF forces.

Abbas Salung, a member of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), was quoted on MILF’s website luwaran.com as saying that the MILF should file a formal complaint on the alleged violation by the military.

According to Salung, a 30-minute firefight ensued between the government troops and MILF forces under Ustaz Hamzah Sapanton. He said that the MILF “suffered scores of casualties.”

The encounter took place in Sitio Badja Maluha, Brgy. Baguindan in Tipo-Tipo.

Quoting Sapanton, Salung said the encounter was a “deliberate act to undermine the ceasefire and the peace talks between the government and MILF, which only compounds the increasing doubts over the sincerity of the government in the peace process.”

But Galvez said the MILF’s statement on luwaran.com, which he described as the “propaganda arm” of the secessionist group, showed the “dynamics” among MILF’s political and ground leaders.

Galvez said the military operation last Monday was properly coordinated with MILF commander Dan Asnawi.

Galvez said he might meet with Maj. Gen. Dato Fadzil Bin Mokhtar, head of Malaysia’s International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the CCCH members in Zamboanga City, to discuss Monday’s encounter.