Abu Sayyaf man killed in Basilan police operation

ZAMBOANGA CITY—An Abu Sayyaf member involved in the 2000 Sipadan hostage crisis was killed during a police operation in Basilan province on Wednesday, reports said.

Senior Supt. Nickson Muksan, Basilan police chief, said Mobin Kulin, alias Mulawin, fought back when a team from the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Metro Manila tried to arrest him on Tapiantana Island in Tabuan Lasa town.

Muksan said Kulin was also involved in the 2001 siege of Lamitan and the kidnapping at Golden Harvest Plantation in Lantawan town about a week later. He said Kulin was a high-value target who had a P600,000 bounty on his head. —Julie Alipala