2 Sayyaf subcommanders captured

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two suspected ranking members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf bandit group, including one who has a P2-million bounty for the kidnapping of three Americans and 17 other people from a resort in Palawan in 2001, were captured in separate raids in Zamboanga del Sur, officials said.

Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga identified one of the arrested Abu Sayyaf leaders as Tuatin Anahalul alias Abu Basilan, who was captured by combined police and military intelligence operatives in his safehouse in Purok Gumamela, Margusatubig town Thursday.

Allaga said Anahalul has a P2-million bounty on his head for his involvement in the Lamitan, Basilan siege and the kidnapping of three American tourists from a resort in Palawan in 2001.

Anahalul was among the Abu Sayyaf bandits who kidnapped US missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, as well as Guillermo Sobero, and 17 others from the Palawan resort.

They brought their hostages by boat from Palawan to Basilan, where they raided a hospital in Lamitan town. The militants, with hostages in tow, escaped four days later from the hospital after battling government troops.

Gracia Burnham survived the yearlong jungle captivity ordeal, which prompted a US-backed offensive against the guerrillas. Her husband Martin was killed during a military rescue in 2002. Sobero had been beheaded earlier by the bandits.

Allaga said Anahalul later led troops in arresting another Abu Sayyaf bandit in Margusatubig.

Officials have declined to name the second suspect for security reasons, citing ongoing operations.

Wesmincom spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara Jr. said Anahalul was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by the Basilan court.

Batara said Anahalul will also be charged for illegal possession of firearms after arresting lawmen seized several high powered firearms from the bandit leader.

On the other hand, thousands of villagers in a remote town in Basilan have been threatened by the Abu Sayyaf.

Ungkaya Pukan town Mayor Joel Maturan said thousands of villagers have abandoned their homes after receiving threats of an attack by the Abu Sayyaf.

Reports said the bandits fired at a civilian helicopter ferrying American troops and supplies last Dec. 18.

The American troops were helping government troops in a civil-military operation in Barangay Bohe Suyak when the bandits fired on the helicopter, wounding one of the American pilots, Maturan said.

“The people were afraid already and the Abu Sayyaf bandits who are just from the area threatened to attack,” Maturan said.

He said the barangays deserted by its people include Bohe Suyak, Sungkayok, Tongbato Kulitan, and Matarling.

Maturan said about 5,000 people from over 900 villages have fled so far.

“Bohe Suyak has been abandoned 100 percent of its residents while the rest of the villages were partially abandoned,” Maturan added.

Maturan said the Abu Sayyaf also destroyed two main water pipes and interrupted the potable water service in Ungkaya Pukan town.  – With James Mananghaya, AP