Abu Rami. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO VIA CEBU DAILY NEWS
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military in Sulu confirmed that Abu Sayyaf leader Muammar Askali alias Abu Rami was one of those killed in Inabanga, Bohol.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that they had monitored Askali and his group leaving Sulu on April 6.
“He and his followers left Sulu for a safer place, but it appears that there’s no safe place for the Abu Sayyaf anymore,” Sobejana said.
A Philippine Daily Inquirer source said government intelligence observed the “absence” of Askali and Alhabshi Misaya, another Abu Sayyaf leader, following the heavy clashes in the province the past weeks.
Askali’s absence was strongly observed after the beheading of kidnap victim German national Gustav Jurgen Kantner on February 26, while there was no report on Misaya since April 8.
“Allegedly, Askali and Misaya disappeared in Sulu and reportedly went to an unknown direction using two speedboats,” the source said.
The source added that government intelligence later got information that Askali’s group went to Bohol to link up with Alden Yusup, an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader operating in that area.
The group allegedly was planning to kidnap tourists in Loboc and Panglao, both known for having foreign visitors
Askali’s group met their end when villagers noticed the unusual design of their boats. The villagers reported their presence to authorities.
The source identified one of the slain bandits as Jubail Umar alias Umayr, a follower of slain regional terrorist Julkifli bin Hir alias Marwan who was killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao two years ago.
The other slain bandits were Edimar Isnain, allegedly a trained bomber from Barangay Lab in Patikul, Sulu; Alpin Abbis Muharani, a relative of Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron; Hajan Astig, also a relative Sahiron; and Husain Padog of Patikul, Sulu.
The source said the bandits left Sulu via Mamanok Island in Tongkil town.
“They went to Bohol using the two fishing pump boats and pretended to be fishermen,” the source said. SFM
This is a portion of the Visayas and Mindanao map highlighting the distance covered by the Abu Sayyaf bandits between Tongkil, Sulu, where they allegedly set sail and Inabanga, Bohol, where they landed on Apr. 11, 2017. (Wikipedia maps)
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