‘Robot’ next on AFP list

ZAMBOANGA CITY – After neutralizing Abu Sayyaf leader Mujib Susukan, the hunt is on for elusive Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, and his men in the hinterlands of Talipao, Sulu.

Andang is the next Abu Sayyaf leader on the military’s list, Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya said. "We have already said we will get them one by one."

As government troops gain headway in the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf, Abaya said the military expects to gain more ground with the coming Balikatan 03-1 joint exercises between US troops and Philippine soldiers in the south.

Reports from Washington indicated that some 1,700 US soldiers are expected to be deployed to Sulu and 400 more will be based in Zamboanga City as support personnel.

"Even without the Balikatan 03-1, we already neutralized Susukan," Abaya said. "With the Balikatan 03-1, we hope to neutralize the other Abu Sayyaf leaders and put an end, with finality, to the Abu Sayyaf."

"Of course, if plans push through, we will be doing the fighting," Abaya said as he clarified doubts that the US soldiers will join combat operations.

According to the Southcom chief, the joint exercises will create a "warrior and blacksmith" situation in which the US troops will play blacksmith by helping enhance the field performance of the Filipino warriors.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Dionisio Santiago confirmed Susukan’s death yesterday based on a report by Col. Alexander Aleo, commander of the 104th Infantry Brigade.

After searching in the jungles of Talipao for three days, Susukan’s cadaver was recovered and positively identified by the slain bandit’s cousins Ahmad Yusop and Alonto Taog.

Abaya said Susukan’s body was recovered from a shallow grave in Barangay Tiis Kutung, known to be Susukan’s stronghold at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Susukan’s remains were brought to the 104th Army Brigade based in Busbus, Jolo and formally turned over Saturday night to Susukan’s family for proper burial.

Aleo said Susukan’s cadaver was decomposing when the military recovered it, Aleo said, adding that Muslim ulamas (preachers) "said there was no violation, citing that Susukan was a bandit."

Susukan and nine of his followers were killed in an encounter with the 53rd Infantry Battalion which swooped down on his hideout at Barangay Bandang in Talipao, Sulu on Feb. 18.

Susukan was shot under the right armpit and in the right leg in a clash, Aleo said quoting military reports.

Aleo said "before we recovered the cadaver, we already confirmed that (Susukan) was killed. But we have to provide his body, at least, to confirm, to erase doubts from the people."

His death was first confirmed by barangay officials who were forced to bury Abu Sayyaf bandits killed in the clash, Abaya said.

The military said Susukan’s death and the recovery of his corpse was expected to draw a retaliatory attack from the Abu Sayyaf.

However, he said, the Abu Sayyaf has broken up into small groups and are on the run due to the relentless military offensive against them, making it difficult for the bandits to launch retaliatory attacks.

In terms of losses inflicted on the Abu Sayyaf, Abaya said, Susukan’s death "is equivalent to the killing of (Abu Sayyaf spokesman) Abu Sabaya."

Sabaya was killed in a June 2002 encounter with Marines in a sea battle off Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

Abaya rated Susukan as the third top leader of the Abu Sayyaf, carrying a P5-million bounty on his head and was one of the prime suspects in the Abu Sayyaf raid on the Sipadan beach resort in Pulao Simballun, Sabah, Malaysia.

During that raid, Andang, Susukan and their cohorts kidnapped 21 tourists and resort workers, including two Filipinos, and brought the hostages to Jolo, Sulu on April 23, 2000.

All the hostages but one Filipino captive were later released in batches, in exchange for millions of dollars’ worth of ransom – believed to be $1 million per hostage – reportedly paid by Libya.

During the Sipadan hostage situation, the Abu Sayyaf also managed to take several foreign journalists covering the incident hostage. The journalists were later freed, but their equipment and personal belongings were seized by the bandits.