Jailbreak attempt a terrorist who’s who

A rapist and a killer.

This was how both the military and police described Alhamser Manatad Limbong, alias Commander Kosovo, who led the failed jailbreak of Abu Sayyaf inmates from a maximum-security prison yesterday in Bicutan, Taguig.

The result was bloodshed with at least five people dead, including three jail guards.

Limbong and senior Abu Sayyaf leader Ghalib Andang, alias Commander Robot, are among the terrorists being held at Camp Bagong Diwa, the Metro Manila police headquarters. Both were notorious instigators of kidnap-for-ransom and bombing sprees in the south over the past years.

Limbong played a key role in the May 27, 2001 kidnapping by the bandits of foreign and local tourists at a posh island resort in Palawan.

A second cousin of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khaddafy Janjalani, Limbong was also involved in the Oct. 2, 2002 Malagutay bombing in Zambaonga City that left one American serviceman dead and several others injured.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil said with Limbong and Andang in the Taguig prison is Najdmi Sabdula, who was detained in 2001. Andang and Sabdula are defendants in the Sipadan kidnappings in April 2000.

Andang, who was arrested in 2003, was among the Abu Sayyaf commanders who raided the dive resort of Sipadan in Malaysia on April 23, 2000 and took 21 foreign tourists and resort workers as hostages. Most of the tourists were Europeans.

Andang, whose group is based in Sulu, was arrested by combined military intelligence agents on Dec. 7, 2003 during an encounter at Barangay Panabuan, Indanan town.

When cornered by Army troops, Andang, known for his ruthlessness, begged his Army captors for mercy.

With a bullet wound to the left leg, Andang, who carries a P1-million bounty on his head, was later evacuated to the military hospital at Camp Aguinaldo, then transferred to the V. Luna Medical Center.

Military doctors later declared Andang’s left leg was severely wounded and that it should be amputated to avoid infection.

After a series of hospital operations, Andang – like the rest of the Abu Sayyaf bandits arrested by authorities – was transferred to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and detained at the Abu Sayyaf detention facility in Bicutan.

Andang’s transfer and that of other key leaders of the Abu Sayyaf came under protest from several anti-terrorism officials who noted that they were high security risks.

"We even batted for their detention at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo," a senior anti-terrorism official said.

Sure enough, Limbong led the bandits in the failed jailbreak.

But Andang, who can no longer move freely, reportedly tried to dissuade Kosovo from carrying out his plan.

Military and police authorities consider Kosovo to be a ruthless killer who executes his victims with no remorse, as he reportedly did in beheading American hostage Guillermo Sobero.

Sobero, along with American couple Gracia and Martin Burnham, were held hostage by the bandits when the Abu Sayyaf raided the Palawan resort and abducted 20 local and American tourists.

At the height of the negotiations for the release of the American hostages, Limbong, an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander, personally beheaded Sobero.

While given custody of the European and American hostages, Limbong reportedly followed the footsteps of Janjalani and the slain Aldam Tilao in sexually violating most of their women hostages.

With a P150,000 reward on his head, Limbong, along with five other suspected terrorists, was arrested in a series of operations in Fairview, Quezon City last year.

When he was arrested at SM-Fairview Mall, Limbong was found to be in possession of 36 kilos of explosives, which he and his group were reportedly planning to detonate in the commercial establishment.

Limbong was reportedly sent by Janjalani to Metro Manila to conduct special operations.

While in Metro Manila, Kosovo assumed another name and worked as a construction worker and stayed at Maharlika Village, a Muslim enclave, in Taguig.